Former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina didn’t make the cut for Saturday’s Republican debate, ABC News announced Thursday.
In recent days, Fiorina mounted a public lobbying effort to get invited to the debate, which will be held just hours before polls close in New Hampshire.
Under ABC’s criteria, invites would only go to candidates who finished in the top three in Iowa or placed in the top six in averages of national polls or New Hampshire polls. Fiorina placed seventh in the Iowa caucuses and held the same position in the most recent RealClearPolitics averages of national and Granite State polls.
A similar effort had previously worked for Fiorina, when she successfully lobbied CNN and the Republican National Committee to change the rules for a September debate to allow her onstage.
The lineup will include former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, real estate mogul Donald Trump, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore, who is not even included on many polls, will also not make the debate stage. Unlike previous debates, there will be no undercard debate.
