Fox Business GOP Debate Could Cut Main Debate to 6 Candidates

The next Republican presidential debate may have only six candidates on its main stage, based on new criteria by Fox Business Channel, The Hill reports. 

Fox Business announced Tuesday  that the two methods of qualifying for the prime time debate include being in the top six in qualifying national polls or in the top five in Iowa or New Hampshire.

As The Hill noted, the current top five in state polls also are in the top six nationally. Should that trend continue, only six candidates would make the main stage.

Currently, those top six candidates are businessman Donald Trump, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, neurosurgeon Ben Carson, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

Were the debate held today, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, businesswoman Carly Fiorina and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who made the main debate stage last week, would be moved to the undercard debate.

Previous debates have had either 10 or 9 candidates on the main stage. As of today, 13 total candidates remain in the race.

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