DNC plans to limit debate stage curbed as Tulsi Gabbard qualifies for October debate

The Democratic National Committee’s attempts to winnow the presidential primary debate stage did not succeed in shrinking the number of candidates for the next debate. On Wednesday, Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard became the 12th candidate to qualify for the October debate after missing the qualifying threshold for the September round.

Candidates must secure 130,000 individual donors and at least 2% support in four our more DNC-approved polls by Oct. 1 to make the debates scheduled for Oct. 15 and 16, the same standards as the September debate. A Monmouth University poll released Wednesday found Gabbard with 2% support, her fourth qualifying poll.