Fox News Just Announced a GOP Debate Rule Tweak That Could Be a Total Game Changer

The next prime-time Republican presidential debate could include only six candidates, based upon the rules the Fox Business Network has established for the Jan. 14 event.

Based upon the rules Fox Business released Tuesday, assuming no major changes in the current polls, the main debate would be limited to Donald Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas; Ben Carson; Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.; N.J. Gov. Chris Christie and former Fla. Gov. Jeb Bush.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., Ohio Gov. John Kasich, and Carly Fiorina would move from the main stage to the “undercard.”

To qualify for the prime-time debate, Fox Business said candidates must do one of three things:

Place in the top six nationally, based on an average of the five most recent national polls recognized by Fox News.

Place in the top five in Iowa, based on an average of the five most recent polls recognized by Fox News.

Place in the top five in New Hampshire based on an average of the five most recent polls recognized by Fox News . . .

“It’s long past time that those who’ve failed to do something with these opportunities did the honorable thing and, if not quit the race entirely, at least exit the debate stage so that the actual contenders aren’t left begging for time amid Kasich’s karate-chop laden explainers or Paul’s dogged attempts to reshape the GOP base in his image,” wrote Jason Linkins. (Read more from “Fox News Just Announced a GOP Debate Rule Tweak That Could Be a Total Game Changer” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.