Trump: Good idea and fair to include Christie, Huckabee in main debate

by Jesse Byrnes - 11/06/15 10:06 AM ET

Donald Trump is encouraging Fox Business Network to include GOP presidential rivals Chris Christie and Mike Huckabee on stage with him at the next debate.

I think it would be a good idea—and fair—to include @GovChristie & @MikeHuckabeeGOP in the debate. Both solid & good guys. @FoxBusiness

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2015

In his tweet on Friday, Trump included the Twitter handle for the network, which is hosting the Tuesday night debate along with The Wall Street Journal.

{mosads}Fox Business has announced an eight-person lineup for the primetime debate, excluding New Jersey Gov. Christie and former Arkansas Gov. Huckabee from the main stage.

The two were relegated to an undercard debate airing before the main event, the network announced Thursday.

Christie thanked Trump for his tweet but signaled he was prepared to appear in the undercard debate.

Thanks @realDonaldTrump. Try to have some fun without me!

— Chris Christie (@ChrisChristie) November 6, 2015

To get on the main debate stage, candidates had to reach a 2.5 percent threshold in four major national polls released recently. Those candidates failing to reach that level but with at least 1 percent support were placed in the undercard debate.

Trump is slated to be in the primetime debate, flanked by retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). Also on that stage will be Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.), former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Fox announced.

Christie and Huckabee, who both appeared in the primetime slot for the first three debates, are slated to appear in the earlier debate Tuesday along with Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.).

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), former New York Gov. George Pataki and former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore all failed to qualify for the undercard debate.

Trump and Carson, who have been atop the polls, have led the Republican charge to change the formats for the debates. Both teamed up to push CNBC to limit its debate last week to two hours and allow the candidates to deliver opening and closing remarks.

This story was updated at 11:07 a.m.

Tags 2016 GOP primary Chris Christie Donald Trump GOP debates Mike Huckabee