COLUMBIA, S.C. (NEWSnet/AP) — The first Republican presidential candidate debate for 2024 is less than a month away. Seven candidates say they have met qualifications for a spot Aug. 23 in Milwaukee. But nearly half of the projected field is running out of time to make the cut.

To qualify, candidates must satisfy polling and donor requirements set by the Republican National Committee: at least 1% in three high-quality national polls or a mix of national and early-state polls, July 1 to Aug. 21, and a minimum of 40,000 donors, with 200 in 20 or more states.

QUALIFIERS

Donald Trump. The current front-runner is considering boycotting the debate and holding a competing event. One campaign adviser said “it’s pretty clear,” based on Trump's public and private statements, that he is unlikely to appear with the other candidates.

Ron DeSantis. The Florida governor is considered to be Trump's top rival, finishing a distant second to him in a series of polls. But DeSantis' campaign has struggled to meet expectations that awaited when he entered the race.

Tim Scott. The South Carolina senator has been looking for a breakout moment. In one debate-approved poll in Iowa, Scott joined Trump and DeSantis in reaching double digits.

Nikki Haley. Haley blitzed early-voting states with campaign events. Serving as Trump's U.N. ambassador for about two years, Haley frequently cites her international experience, arguing about the threat China poses to the U.S.

Vivek Ramaswamy. The biotech entrepreneur and author of “Woke, Inc.: Inside Corporate America’s Social Justice Scam” is an audience favorite at multi-candidate events and has polled well. Ramaswamy's campaign says he met the donor threshold earlier this year.

Christ Christie. The former New Jersey governor opened his campaign by portraying himself as the only candidate ready to challenge Trump. Christie told CNN this month that he surpassed “40,000 unique donors in just 35 days.”

Doug Burgum. A former software entrepreneur now in his second term as North Dakota’s governor, Burgum has been using his fortune to boost his campaign. He announced a program to give away $20 gift cards to as many as 50,000 people in exchange for $1 donations. Critics have questioned whether the offer violated campaign finance law.

HAVE NOT QUALIFIED

Mike Pence. Trump's vice president has met the polling threshold, but has yet to reach a sufficient number of donors.

Asa Hutchinson. According to his campaign, the former two-term Arkansas governor has met the polling requirement, but has not met the donor threshold.

Francis Suarez. The Miami mayor took a page from Burgum’s playbook by offering a $20 “Bidenomics Relief Card” in return for $1 donations. A super political action committee supporting Suarez launched a sweepstakes for a chance at up to $15,000 in tuition, in exchange for a $1 donation.

Larry Elder. The radio host wrote in an op-ed that RNC “has rigged the rules of the game by instituting a set of criteria that is so onerous and poorly designed that only establishment-backed and billionaire candidates are guaranteed to be on stage.” His campaign last week declined to detail its number of donors. He has not met the polling requirements.

Perry Johnson. Johnson, a businessman from Michigan, said in a recent social media post he had notched 23,000 donors and is “confident” he would make the debate stage.

Will Hurd.  The former Texas congressman has said he will not pledge to support the eventual GOP nominee, a stance that would keep him from the debate, even if he attains qualifying donor and polling numbers.

Copyright 2023 NEWSnet and The Associated Press. All rights reserved.