CNN announced Tuesday that it is amending the criteria for inclusion for the second GOP debate in two weeks at the Reagan Library.
According to the cable network, any candidate who ranks “in the top 10 in polling between August 6 and September 10” will be invited to the debate.
The news comes after complaints from GOP hopeful Carly Fiorina, who was set to be excluded from the debate despite a rise in her poll numbers after a strong performance in the undercard debate on August 6. Earlier Tuesday, political and community leaders from 23 states signed a letter warning CNN chief Jeff Zucker against “inappropriately influencing” the GOP primary process and pushing for Fiorina’s inclusion.
“Carly earned her place at the main debate stage,” said Sarah Isgur Flores, Fiorina’s deputy campaign manager, after the news was announced.
“We’re so grateful to the thousands of grassroots supporters and conservative activists around the country who weren’t afraid to take on the political establishment and challenge the status quo to make this happen,” Isgur Flores continued. “We look forward to watching @CarlyFiorina debate the other front runners at the Reagan Library.”
Under the new criteria, the number of candidates on the debate stage will not strictly be capped at 10. Instead, all the candidates who were in the top 10 in polls as of the first Fox News debate will be included, along with any who surged after the debate. Operatively, the news means Fiorina will likely join the other ten Republicans, but it also leaves an opening for a late surging candidate to join the others as well.
Put another way, Fiorina’s rise wouldn’t knock anybody off of the debate stage on Sept. 16 in Simi Valley, Calif.
The change came as welcome news for the Republican National Committee, who had also been under pressure from the Fiorina campaign to change the rules.
“I applaud CNN for recognizing the historic nature of this debate and fully support the network’s decision to amend their criteria,” said RNC chair Reince Priebus.
