“I don't think there’s any way anybody in any clear conscience can exclude us from the main stage,” Paulsaid when asked about his uncertain status for this week's debate. | Getty Paul insists he'll be on main stage for GOP debate

Hours before Rand Paul’s fate for this week's GOP debate is determined, the Kentucky senator is insistent that he will make the main stage.

On Monday morning, his chief adviser Doug Stafford emailed reporters to argue Paul is a “serious” contender for the nomination and will make the stage “because he has qualified to do so and because he has a top tier campaign.” Minutes after, Paul told reporters that it would be “difficult” for Fox Business Channel to exclude him from the South Carolina debate.


Paul is in a precarious position as debate organizers prepare to announce whether he will make the cut; organizers will allow those polling in the top six nationally and top five in New Hampshire and Iowa on the main stage. During a Monday conference call regarding this week’s Senate vote on his bill to audit the Federal Reserve, Paul said there is a “lot of evidence” that indicates he will be on the main stage.

“I don't think there’s any way anybody in any clear conscience can exclude us from the main stage,” Paul said when asked about his uncertain status.

Paul vowed in December that he will not participate in an “undercard” debate. He would not say on Monday whether he has reconsidered; Paul’s presidential campaign said his fifth place polling in a recent Marist survey indicates momentum.

But the first-term senator appears to need a polling bump by Monday evening to secure a place on the North Charleston debate stage. He trails the top six GOP contenders nationally as well as the top five in the two early states. John Kasich and Carly Fiorina could also be booted off the main stage and relegated to the undercard.

Paul made it into the last mainstage debate only after CNN tweaked its criteria for qualification.

"In the light of new polling released this morning and in the spirit of being as inclusive as possible, CNN has decided to include Sen. Rand Paul in the prime time debate," a CNN spokesperson said in explaining the last minute change.