CNN Changes Debate Critera--Fiorina Probably in the "Big Kids" Debate

CNN has amended the debate criteria for its September 16 Republican primary debate. This change means that it's nearly certain that Carly Fiorina will be included in the primetime debate in two weeks.

CNN is amending the criteria for its Republican presidential debate on September 16, possibly opening the door for Carly Fiorina to join the other top-tier candidates on the stage.

The cause: a lack of national public polling following the August 6 debate has so far provided only three new polls to determine the lineup for the Reagan Presidential Debate, according to a CNN statement.

As a result, CNN reevaluated its criteria and decided to add a provision that better reflects the state of the race since the first Republican presidential debate in August, the network announced Tuesday.

Now, any candidate who ranks in the top 10 in polling between August 6 and September 10 will be included.

How did Fiorina get in? Old CNN rules in the left column. CNN added top 10 in right column -- includes Fiorina. pic.twitter.com/8m7aVSPNhR

— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) September 1, 2015

Fiorina jumped in the polls following her dominant performance in the "happy hour" debate of lower-polling candidates on August 6. Still, despite the jump, it looked unlikely for Fiorina to make the stage for the CNN debate. Today's amendment changed that.