CNN has adjusted the parameters for qualifying for the network's upcoming GOP presidential debate, meaning candidates who were left off the roster for the main Fox News debate in August could be included.
Initially, CNN's debate, slated for Sept. 16, was to feature the top 10 candidates based on overall polling numbers, much like Fox News's Aug. 6 debate.
But because of a lack of national polls in the weeks since that first debate, CNN has announced that any candidate that polls in the top 10 between Aug. 7 and Sept. 10 will be added to the top-tier candidate debate.
New CNN criteria absolutely opens door to more than 10 candidates on debate stage.— Steve Peoples (@sppeoples) September 1, 2015
Chief among those most likely to make it into the final debate roster is former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina. Fiorina experienced a bump in the polls following a universally praised performance in the early, "Happy Hour" debate held by Fox on Aug. 6, which included candidates who fell outside the top 10 window.
Like Fox News, CNN will also host an early debate for lower-performing candidates.
CNN expects just 2 more polls before Sept. 10 debate cutoff. @BobbyJindal isn't getting in, but already has an invite to lower-tier debate.— Elizabeth Crisp (@elizabethcrisp) September 1, 2015
The Republican party endorsed the plan with Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus saying, "I applaud CNN for recognizing the historic nature of this debate and fully support the network's decision to amend their criteria."
According to CNN, if the polling window for their debate ended Tuesday, the candidates included in the top-tier debate would be Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Mike Huckabee, Rand Paul, John Kasich and Chris Christie with Fiorina being the only additional candidate qualifying.