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Paul, Fiorina excluded from next prime-time Republican presidential debate

Xinhua, January 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

U.S. Senator Rand Paul and former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina will be excluded from the next prime-time Republican presidential debate, the Fox Business Network announced Monday.

The debate, to be held in North Charleston, South Carolina on Jan. 14, will feature only seven candidates including real estate mogul Donald Trump, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and Ohio Governor John Kasich.

The line-up was based on the candidates' averages of support in the five most recent national polls in Iowa or New Hampshire, the two early voting states in the primary elections.

To qualify, a candidate needs to be either among the top six in an average of the five most recent nationals polls, or among the top five in an average of the five most recent Iowa or New Hampshire polls.

The prime-time debate, to start at 9 p.m. Eastern Time in the United States (0200 GMT), will focus on economic, domestic and international policy issues, Fox Business said.

Though disqualified from the prime-time debate, Paul and Fiorina can still take part in the 6 p.m. undercard debate, though the latter has announced that she would not participate.

This will be the sixth Republican presidential debate held since last August. Endi