The GOP Debate- Who’s In, Who’s Out

Thursday night in Cleveland, the Republican candidates for President will debate. Well, some of them. Through the quirky process the RNC set up, they gave FOX News complete control of the debate, and they decided just ten of the seventeen candidates would be allowed in. The top ten, not some random ten. This has lead to a politically ridiculous process, in which inflammatory statements are encouraged to gain enough attention and traction to sneak in. Getting over 2% gives you a chance to get on stage. You can get 2% support for any crazy statement.

So who’s in right now? According to the Examiner and NBC News:

With an average poll rating of 19.8 percent, real estate mogul Donald Trump leads the pack and will take center stage. Branching out behind him is Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, and former governor of Florida, Jeb Bush, both polling with 13 percent. Rounding out the top five are Sen. Rand Paul, and Tea Party favorite, Ben Carson, both who have pulled in 6.4 percent in the polls.

The bottom five consists of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, former governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee, and Texas Sen Ted Cruz, all who are polling around 6 percent. Cracking the eight and ninth spots are New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, each who are polling at 3.2 percent.

Those who don’t look like they will be making the cut are former governor of Texas, Rick Perry, who just barely misses the top ten with 2.6 percent. Former Senator of Pennsylvania, Rick Santorum, and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal both pulled in 1.4 percent. Carly Fiorina, George Pataki, Lindsey Graham, and Jim Gilmore failed to bring in a least one percent.

Real Clear Politics basically confirms this, with their order going Trump, Walker, Bush, Carson, Cruz, Huckabee, Rubio, Paul, Kasich, and Christie. They put Perry a solid half point behind Christie, meaning any polls that come out this week would need to give him a couple point edge on Christie to get him in.

This is a freak show process. Trump and Carson, with zero electoral victories, are on their way to the debate, and the longest serving governor in Texas history is not. This is what the GOP base wants though, and this is what the RNC is giving them. Let the clown car begin!