Among Big Moments in Presidential Campaign 1:24 autoplay autoplay Copy this code to your website or blog 
 
 New Jersey Gov. Mike Huckabee are the first casualties of the winnowing GOP presidential debate field, as Fox Business Network announced Thursday night that they both officially missed the cut for next week’s contest. ADVERTISEMENT 
 
 Christie and Huckabee are the only two candidates who had previously appeared on the main debate stage to get cut by the network, which set a threshold of 2.5 percent in four major polls for the top contest. If either candidate scored just 1 percentage point higher in any of those polls, they would have made it onto the debate stage. PHOTOS - On the Stump: Chris Christie's Presidential Campaign 
 
 Earlier in the day, Christie told NBC’s Hallie Jackson, “either way, I'll be in Milwaukee Tuesday night debating the big issues of our country, putting my voice onto those issues and that’s what really matters the most. “We are months away from actual votes being cast and neither the pundits nor the press will decide this election, the people will.” 
 
 The main debate stage will include the eight remaining Republican candidates who participated in last month's CNBC debate: Real estate mogul Donald Trump Donald John TrumpSean Spicer to speak at gas industry conference Ex-World Bank president: Congress must crack down on Trump’s trade policies Hillary Clinton to sit down with CBS's Jane Pauley on Sunday MORE, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, Sen. Marco Rubio Marco Antonio RubioRubio: Trump should 'clearly outline' what he wants on DACA Trump issues Florida emergency declaration ahead of Hurricane Irma East Coast watching for chance of Hurricane Irma MORE (Fla.) Sen. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzNorth Korea fears demand attention despite domestic concerns Cruz: N. Korean test 'serious escalation' of its ability to commit mass murder Sunday shows preview: Trump faces aftermath of Harvey MORE (Texas), former CEO Carly Fiorina, former Gov. Republicans Lindsey Graham, George Pataki and Jim Gilmore did not make the cut.
– There's another GOP debate on Tuesday, and the stage will feature fewer candidates—though not because anyone has dropped out. Host Fox Business on Thursday announced the lineup, and Chris Christie and Mike Huckabee have been relegated to the early debate. The criteria the decision was based on: a minimum polling average of 2.5% in four recent polls. The Hill reports the two finished at 2.25%, with Rand Paul barely making it in at the 2.5% cutoff. Seven will be joining Paul in Milwaukee, per NBC News: Donald Trump, Ben Carson, Marco Rubio, Carly Fiorina, Ted Cruz, Jeb Bush, and John Kasich. The early debate will also feature Bobby Jindal and Rick Santorum; Lindsey Graham and George Pataki didn't make the cut, having failed to grab at least 1% in any of the four polls.