RNC Sets Criteria for Republican Presidential Debates.
The Republican National Committee has announced new qualifying standards for the first GOP presidential primary debate in August, including a requirement for candidates to pledge support for the eventual Republican nominee and not participate in any outside debates. Candidates must also meet polling and fundraising criteria, including donations from at least 40,000 national contributors and consistent polling above 1 percent in three national polls or two national polls and a state poll. The new standards aim to prevent the chaotic debates of the 2016 Republican primaries.