Sen. Rand Paul asks to be on main stage for Republican debate

Despite being ranked fifth, Paul not among seven chosen

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 14, 2016) — Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul has asked Fox Business and the Republican Party to let him onto the main stage of tonight’s debate, pointing to a poll by The Des Moines Register that ranks Paul fifth among candidates with 5 percent of voters favoring him, The Washington Post is reporting.

Paul said the poll was conducted before the Jan. 10 cutoff—but released afterwards—and puts him in position to meet Fox Business’s standard.

Paul told reporters, “It occurred within the window of time they prescribed. We’re they will reevaluate and count this poll, which comes after the NBC/Marist poll, which also had us alone in fifth place. Our campaign is talking with them about re-evaluating the decision.”

Fox Business has said it will keep the current slate of seven candidates for the debate.

The seven candidates are: Businessman Donald Trump; Texas Sen. Ted Cruz; Florida Sen. Marco Rubio; retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson; New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie; former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush; and Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

According to The Des Moines Register poll, 25 percent of voters favor Cruz, 22 percent favor Trump, 12 percent favor Rubio and Carson 11 percent.

Paul, at 5 percent, has a higher percent than Bush (4 percent), Christie (3 percent) and Kasich (2 percent).