DNC raises qualifying thresholds for the fifth presidential debate

The National Democratic Committee (DNC) on Monday announced new criteria to qualify for the fifth presidential primary debate, raising the bar for candidates to candidates hoping to step on the scene in November.

In order to qualify for the fifth debate, applicants will need to garner the support of at least 165,000 unique donors, including at least 600 donors per state in at least 20 states.

They must also register at least 3% in at least four eligible polling stations or at least 5% in two separate polling stations in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.

The DNC has regularly imposed stricter conditions to qualify for its presidential debates. The last two debates forced candidates to collect the contributions of 130,000 unique donors and to achieve at least 2% of the vote in four eligible polls, doubling the criteria in relation to the two initial debates.

But the new requirements unveiled Monday are not as austere as some candidates had predicted. Many campaigns have warned in recent weeks that the DNC would likely double the threshold of donors, suggesting that applicants may be required to collect contributions from at least 260,000 donors.

The new criteria reflect the fine line the DNC has sought to follow throughout its presidential nomination contest.

On the one hand, the committee has been tasked with overseeing a diverse and historically populated group of candidates competing for the Democratic nomination. But the DNC officials also sought to counter the accusations that they were trying to reduce the number of candidates before the voters had a chance to speak out. Currently, 19 candidates are running for the Democratic nomination.

Perhaps the most important change in the new criteria is that candidates now have two ways to meet the DNC's voting requirements. They can either register 3% in four national or state polling stations, or 5% in at least two single state polling stations belonging to one of the first primary and caucus states.

A handful of candidates already seem to have fulfilled the new qualifications, including the former vice president Joe BidenJoe BidenThe strike of the auto workers against GM is about to unfold in the eighth day Trump responds to the call of the investigation on Biden after the complaint of a launcher d & rsquo; Alert: "It's the real story" PLUS, Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth Ann WarrenThe strike of the auto workers united against GM is about to begin in the eighth day Omar: Biden is not the candidate to tackle many of the systemic issues to which we are facing (D-Mass.), Senator Bernie SandersBernie SandersOmar: Biden is not the candidate to "tackle a lot of the systematic problems we have" Seven points to remember from a Democratic presidential campaign weekend in the summer. Iowa Democrats go out of their way to seduce young voters by 2020 MORE (I-Vt.), Sen. Kamala HarrisKamala Devi HarrisSeven to remember from a busy Democratic presidential week-end in Iowa A ban on fracking could have an unexpected consequence: to increase coal. Poll: Voters Support Medicare Expansion While Maintaining Private Insurance PLUS (D-Calif.) And South Bend, mayor of Ind. Pete ButtigiegPeter (Pete) Paul ButtigiegOmar: Mr. Biden is not the candidate to tackle many of the systematic problems we face..

But the new requirements may pose problems for several candidates who have not yet reached the lower benchmarks set for the fourth presidential debate in October.