The polls have been averaged and the results are in. Fox News has released the official candidate list for the 5pm and 9pm debates taking place on Thursday, August 6. The early debate will feature all candidates outside the top ten, while the primetime event will feature the top 10 Republican candidates in an average of five national polls.
5pm ET debate lineup:
Perry, Santorum, Jindal, Fiorina, Graham, Pataki, Gilmore
9pm ET debate lineup:
Trump, Bush, Walker, Huckabee, Carson, Cruz, Rubio, Paul, Christie, Kasich
Report from Fox News:
Fox News has announced the line-up for the prime-time Republican presidential debate this Thursday, and here’s who qualified:
Real estate magnate Donald Trump; former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush; Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker; former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee; retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson; Texas Sen. Ted Cruz; Florida Sen. Marco Rubio; Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul; New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie; and Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
The roster of 10 candidates was determined based on an average of the five most recent national polls. Trump as expected made the cut, securing the top slot. Right behind him were Bush and Walker, who each have posted strong numbers in recent surveys.
The drama, rather, was at the edge of the top 10. Christie and Kasich, who were hovering by that edge in recent polling, were able to qualify.
Kasich, who leads the state where the debate is being held, said in a statement, “As governor, I am glad to welcome my fellow debate participants to our great state and I look forward to discussing the issues facing our country with them on Thursday.”
But former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and several others will not be on the prime-time, 9 p.m. ET stage. The seven who did not make the top 10 will be invited to a separate 5 p.m. ET debate. Aside from Perry and Santorum, this includes Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal; former HP head Carly Fiorina; South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham; former New York Gov. George Pataki; and former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore.
Not much of a surprise here with the exception of Kasich who only announced his candidacy weeks ago. It may have been smart to get in just before the debate since it lifted him into the top ten knocking out Texas Governor Rick Perry.
