The GOP undercard debate: Do any of these candidates have a chance at the varsity debate?

Rick Perry is out. Carly Fiorina graduated to the primetime debate at 8 p.m., after CNN changed its rules to include an 11th candidate. So that leaves Rick Santorum, Bobby Jindal, Lindsey Graham, and George Pataki at the undercard debate, fighting to creep up the polls enough to get a glimpse of Donald Trump on a debate stage.

Do any of these candidates have a chance? Santorum, who technically presented the strongest challenge to Mitt Romney's primary run in 2012, has the best chance, lurking a percentage point behind Fiorina in CNN's average. But the cold truth is that it will be difficult for any of these candidates to break out of the bottom of the pack, short of revealing the mystery of Trump's hair. Tonight might mark the night that the GOP field was whittled to a more manageable 11.

But at least they'll get one last chance to debate on live television. Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore, who appeared in the last undercard debate, will be live-tweeting this one from his home.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up