The Republican Nationwide Committee invited eight candidates to the primary debate in August. Candidates certified by getting 40,000 donors (with 200 distinctive donors in 20 completely different states) and by hitting a polling threshold that sees them clear 1 p.c in a handful of polls.
However there was some controversy: A handful of low-polling candidates claimed to satisfy the necessities — together with Perry Johnson, whom POLITICO initially deemed certified — who did not get an RNC invite, elevating questions on how unpredictable and arbitrary the committee’s choices shall be for future debates.