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WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley is at risk of being excluded from the next Democratic presidential debate based on criteria released Friday by NBC News.
NBC says in order to qualify for the January 17 debate in South Carolina, a candidate must reach an average of 5 percent either in recent national polls or in polls in Iowa, New Hampshire or South Carolina.
O'Malley has been polling at about 5 percent in Iowa but remains below those margins in New Hampshire, South Carolina and in national polls.
He trails Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders by wide margins.
Democratic National Committee spokesman Luis Miranda says he expects "all three of our major candidates on stage next Sunday in South Carolina."
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