So far, 16 Republicans have qualified for CNN’s two-tier presidential debates in September, but one candidate has failed to make the cut.
CNN said on Tuesday that former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore had not met the criteria to even qualify for the lower tier of its two debates to be held on Sept. 16.
Candidates must have at least 1 percent support, among other criteria, to participate in the CNN/Reagan Library debate, the news channel said.
Gilmore, who was the 17th and most recent GOPer to join the race at the end of July, has hovered at the bottom of recent polls.
The CNN/Reagan Library debate is designed to have two consecutive debates with the top 10 candidates in one and the remaining candidates in the other.
The top 10 candidates will be determined by “all qualifying polls released between July 16 and September 10,” according to its guidelines.
CNN “State of the Union” anchor and chief Washington correspondent Jake Tapper is scheduled to moderate the event at the Air Force One Pavilion at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, according to CNN.
Those who have already qualified for the debates are:
Businessman Donald Trump, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former surgeon Dr. Ben Carson, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, and former New York Gov. George Pataki.
