UPDATE: Scratch that. It looks like the DNC is increasing the threshold, which will likely keep Gabbard stage left.
We have two more debates-- of course the threshold will go up. By the time we have the March debate, almost 2,000 delegates will be allocated. The threshold will reflect where we are in the race, as it always has.
— Xochitl Hinojosa (@XochitlHinojosa) March 4, 2020
ORIGINAL POST
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) hasn't been on the debate stage since 2019. But her strong showing on Tuesday night may have propelled her back onstage. Okay, "strong" isn't the best word, but she did manage to pick up at least one delegate in American Samoa. And that was apparently all she needed to qualify for the next debate, per current DNC rules.
If Tulsi Gabbard gets a delegate out of American Samoa, as it appears she has done, she will likely qualify for the next Democratic debate. We don't have new debate rules yet, but party has been inviting any candidate who gets a delegate.
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) March 4, 2020
And by winning one delegate in American Samoa, Tulsi Gabbard has earned back a spot on the debate stage. pic.twitter.com/SXe2CiTXpa
— Scott Bixby (@scottbix) March 4, 2020
Gabbard hasn't exactly been competitive in the 2020 race, but she did get a bump from an unlikely source last year when former presidential nominee Hillary Clinton accused her of being a "Russian asset." Gabbard immediately hit back and called Clinton an arrogant elitist for making those outrageous claims. She later sued Clinton for defamation.
"So when you have someone as powerful as Hillary Clinton seeking to smear my reputation, essentially implying that I’m a traitor to the country that I love, what she essentially is doing is taking my life away," Gabbard explained at the time.
Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg won American Samoa on Tuesday, winning five delegates. But former Vice President Joe Biden is the big winner so far tonight, having already won a handful of states. Keep track of all the latest numbers on our Townhall live blog.
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