Chris Christie, Mike Huckabee relegated to undercard at next GOP debate

Chris Christie and Mike Huckabee have been relegated out of prime-time and onto the undercard at next week’s GOP presidential debate.

And former New York Gov. George Pataki and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham won’t appear at all.

That’s the decision announced Thursday night by Fox Business, which is hosting next Tuesday’s debates.

Eight candidates will appear in the prime-time debate. That’s the fewest of the campaign to date.

The selections were made by the financial news network based on national preference polls.

Candidates had to average at least 2.5 percent or higher in the four most recent major polls conducted through Wednesday to be featured in the prime-time debate.

The threshold for the undercard was 1 percent.

Republished with permission of The Associated Press.