Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley may not reach the 5 percent threshold set by NBC. | AP Photo O'Malley in danger of missing Democratic debate

Criteria announced by NBC on Friday could bump Martin O'Malley off the stage for the next Democratic debate, but party leaders said they expect all three major Democratic candidates to secure a lectern.

According to NBC's announced criteria, candidates have to reach an average of 5 percent in national polls or in Iowa, New Hampshire or South Carolina to make the debate stage on Jan. 17, and the former Maryland governor is at 2.8 percent in the five most recent national polls, 5 percent in Iowa, and 2.4 in New Hampshire, according to POLITICO's calculations.


That means his best shot at making the stage would be maintaining his place in Iowa in polls that are released between now and the debate.

There haven't been enough South Carolina polls to count yet, according to NBC's criteria, but he does not reach the threshold in those that have been released.

Already, the DNC said it expects O'Malley to make the stage, indicating the pressure's on NBC to round up as it assesses the polls. "We expect all three of our major candidates onstage next Sunday in South Carolina," said DNC spokesman Luis Miranda.

O'Malley has been on the stage for each of the Democrats' debates so far, along with Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. Getting booted would be a devastating blow to his campaign, which has failed to get off the ground. A one-on-one debate between Clinton and Sanders would be the first such match-up so far.

An O'Malley spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday morning.