Democratic presidential hopefuls are already throwing punches ahead of next week’s debates in Detroit, underscoring the pressure candidates are under to have a big moment and ensure their survival in the crowded race.

The timing and ferocity of the infighting reflects a stark reality for many of the candidates — it’s desperation time for those who are struggling to qualify for the third debate and who may be making their final appearance in front of a national audience next week.

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Contenders must reach 2 percent in at least four qualifying polls and secure 130,000 donors to qualify for debates in September — a high bar that only former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenPelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Hillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns Fox News poll: Biden ahead of Trump in Nevada, Pennsylvania and Ohio MORE, Sens. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersThe Hill's Campaign Report: Trump faces backlash after not committing to peaceful transition of power Bernie Sanders: 'This is an election between Donald Trump and democracy' The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump stokes fears over November election outcome MORE (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenHillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns On The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline Democratic senators ask inspector general to investigate IRS use of location tracking service MORE (D-Mass.) and Kamala Harris Kamala HarrisHundreds of lawyers from nation's oldest African American sorority join effort to fight voter suppression Biden picks up endorsement from progressive climate group 350 Action 3 reasons why Biden is misreading the politics of court packing MORE (D-Calif.), and South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg Pete ButtigiegBillionaire who donated to Trump in 2016 donates to Biden The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - GOP closes ranks to fill SCOTUS vacancy by November Buttigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice MORE have reached so far.

Sens. Cory Booker Cory Anthony Booker3 reasons why Biden is misreading the politics of court packing Bipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death DHS opens probe into allegations at Georgia ICE facility MORE (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar Amy Klobuchar3 reasons why Biden is misreading the politics of court packing Social media platforms put muscle into National Voter Registration Day Battle lines drawn on precedent in Supreme Court fight MORE (D-Minn.) and Kirsten Gillibrand Kirsten GillibrandSunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election Suburban moms are going to decide the 2020 election Jon Stewart urges Congress to help veterans exposed to burn pits MORE (D-N.Y.), former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas), New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio Bill de BlasioOVERNIGHT ENERGY: California seeks to sell only electric cars by 2035 | EPA threatens to close New York City office after Trump threats to 'anarchist' cities | House energy package sparks criticism from left and right EPA threatens to close New York City office after Trump threats to 'anarchist' cities New Year's Eve in Times Square to be largely virtual amid pandemic MORE, and Reps. Tulsi Gabbard Tulsi GabbardRepublicans call on DOJ to investigate Netflix over 'Cuties' film Hispanic Caucus campaign arm endorses slate of non-Hispanic candidates Gabbard says she 'was not invited to participate in any way' in Democratic convention MORE (D-Hawaii), Seth Moulton Seth MoultonOvernight Defense: Nearly 500 former national security officials formally back Biden | 40 groups call on House panel to investigate Pentagon's use of coronavirus funds The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Markey defeats Kennedy; Trump lauds America's enforcers in Wisconsin Moulton fends off primary challenges in Massachusetts MORE (D-Mass.) and Tim Ryan Timothy (Tim) RyanNow's the time to make 'Social Emotional Learning' a national priority Mourners gather outside Supreme Court after passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lincoln Project hits Trump for criticizing Goodyear, 'an American company' MORE (D-Ohio) are among the candidates who haven’t reached both thresholds.

That raises the pressure they face to have some kind of moment during the two nights of debates in Detroit that will allow them to break from the field — as Harris did when she went after Biden on the issue of busing. That became the most talked-about moment of two nights of debates in June.

The top contenders are also facing make-or-break moments. Biden cannot afford a second debate lapse, while Warren, Harris and Sanders are feeling pressure to establish themselves as the candidate most likely to give him a run for the nomination.

Biden’s allies worry that a second poor performance would completely deflate his candidacy. His rivals smell blood in the water and a weak front-runner.

The former vice president will be flanked at the debate by Harris and Booker, his two most vocal critics in the race. The African American senators have hammered Biden over his record on race, from rhetoric that they deem offensive to his decades-old support for a crime bill and his opposition to a federal busing program.

Biden has telegraphed that he intends to draw attention to their own records on civil rights, including Booker’s time as mayor of Newark and Harris’s stint as attorney general of California.

Meanwhile, Sanders has been ramping up his attacks against Biden, accusing him of spreading “lies” about "Medicare for All," an issue that electrifies the liberal base but worries centrist Democrats.

“We are ready to expect the unexpected,” a Biden campaign adviser said.

The adviser said the campaign is bracing for attacks from Booker on the crime bill, Harris on busing, de Blasio on trade and workers’ rights, Gillibrand on women’s rights, and former San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro on the Obama administration’s deportations.

“Everyone is looking for their T-shirt moment,” the campaign adviser said, a reference to Harris, whose campaign immediately began selling T-shirts with a picture of her as a young girl waiting for a bus after her exchange with Biden at the first debate.

Biden’s tangling with Booker has elevated the New Jersey senator and raised anticipation for their showdown at the debate. Some Democrats question that strategy, noting that Booker has otherwise struggled for traction in the race.

“It seems like a net negative [for Biden],” said Democratic strategist Adam Parkhomenko. “It seems like his best path to victory would be not saying a word.”

While Biden will be the center of attention, the weak spots for the other top contenders have come into sharp relief in recent weeks, and the moderators are all but certain to dig in on those points.

Buttigieg came hot out of the gate and raised more money than any contender in the second quarter, but he has been unable to break through with black voters, a key constituency in the Democratic primary. At an NAACP forum this week, Buttigieg was on the defensive over how his policies had impacted people of color in South Bend and over the racial makeup of his campaign staff.

“We are still on that journey, and it is not done,” Buttigieg said.

Harris has been criticized for being slippery on policy matters, with critics saying that she’s been unclear on defining issues of the race, such as how she’d pay for Medicare for All and whether she supports abolishing private insurance.

Biden telegraphed this week that he’ll press Harris on the matter.

“I find the people who say they are for Medicare for All but are not going to tax the middle class because you don't need to do that ⁠— come on,” Biden told reporters in Detroit. “What is this, some fantasy world here?”

Sanders has been hammering away at Biden, who is the lone top contender to oppose his Medicare for All plan.

But Sanders and Warren will have their work cut out for them on the first night of debates, as they’ll be surrounded by centrist Democrats, such as Klobuchar, former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper John HickenlooperThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Trump previews SCOTUS nominee as 'totally brilliant' Cook Political Report shifts Colorado Senate race toward Democrat Willie Nelson playing at virtual fundraiser for Hickenlooper MORE (D) and former Rep. John Delaney John DelaneyCoronavirus Report: The Hill's Steve Clemons interviews Rep. Rodney Davis Eurasia Group founder Ian Bremmer says Trump right on China but wrong on WHO; CDC issues new guidance for large gatherings The Hill's Coronavirus Report: Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says country needs to rethink what 'policing' means; US cases surpass 2 million with no end to pandemic in sight MORE (D-Md.), who are eager to make the case that the party must resist being dragged too far to the left.

“We plan to make Medicare for All a big focus of our debate strategy,” said Michael Hopkins, an aide to Delaney. “We’ve seen from the president that he intends to make socialism one of his big talking points, so when you have someone running on that agenda, as Sanders is, we risk electing Donald Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE for a second term. It’s bad policy and bad politics.”

The low-polling candidates might be the biggest wild cards as they seek viral moments to help them stand apart from the 19 other candidates in Detroit.

Harris will share the debate stage with Gabbard, who said this week that the California Democrat “is not qualified” to be president because she "has no background or experience in foreign policy, and she lacks the temperament that is necessary for commander in chief."