[keats5]

My fear is that if he is not in a lead position, he won’t make it to the debates. There’s a cut off point, usually based on where the candidates stand in the polls.

So much of this is decided before anyone gets to vote for anything.

[Col Freeper]

I think saw that FOX News is going to have a 5PM (1 hour) debate by whomever they deem Top Tier candidates, and a 1PM (earlier in the day), 90 minute debate by those not in the Top Tier.

Will be interesting to see which debate gets the most eyes.

[InterceptPoint]

My fear is that if he is not in a lead position, he won’t make it to the debates.
++++
Me too.

But Cruz is running a solid 8th and is well ahead of #9 and #10.

My concern is that Cruz, along with Trump, is the least desirable candidate as seen by the GOP, the MSM and many pollsters. As such the polling cards will tend to be stacked against him. Add this to the fact that Trump has taken away a good percentage of Cruz votes and you can smell the risk of him falling to #11 and missing the debate.

But I remain with fingers firmly crossed and hopeful that it will be OK.

[SmokingJoe]

Will easily make it into the debates with room to spare. He was the first to declare. He had his bump in the polls then had to wait while every other of the (is it 17?) candidates declared and got their own poll bumps, which took a percentage of two from Ted Cruz's numbers. When everyone has declared and the debates start, the polling numbers will change again. We are going to go through lots of polling changes b4 the first primaries start, which won't be for another 6 months.