“Well I’ve got news for them: This election is not up to NBC executives, not up to pollsters, it’s up to you, the people of Iowa,” O’Malley said.

His comments followed an announcement earlier by NBC that the fourth Democratic debate, which it is broadcasting Jan. 17 in South Carolina, would be limited to candidates with an average of 5 percent in national polls or in Iowa, New Hampshire or South Carolina.

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O’Malley is currently right on the cusp of 5 percent in Iowa and otherwise below the threshold. His standing could still change, because the criteria takes into account polls up until Jan. 14.

It remains to be seen how much danger O’Malley is really in.

The Democratic National Committee, which is sponsoring the debates, indicated Friday that it expects O’Malley to be on stage in South Carolina. And spokesmen for both the campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders were supportive of O’Malley as well.

“We believe all three candidates should participate in the South Carolina debate, and oppose any criteria that might leave someone excluded,” Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon said on Twitter.

“Bernie thinks Governor O'Malley should be in the debate,” Sanders spokesman Michael Briggs said. “Fair is fair.”