Beto O'Rourke plans Iowa push as deadline to qualify for next debate nears

With just about three months until Iowa begins voting in the first-in-the-nation caucuses, Democrat Beto O’Rourke is planning a big push in that state as he continues to struggle to qualify for future presidential debates.

O’Rourke, who has already visited the state more than most of the Democratic contenders, has 12 events planned over 5 days in 10 cities starting on Friday in Iowa, the state that will be first to vote on Feb. 3, 2020.

The push comes as the former El Paso Congressman has struggled in polling both nationally and in Iowa. Earlier in 2019, O’Rourke was polling over 10 percent and considered one of the front runners. Now, he’s struggling to hit 3 percent — a key requirement to qualify for the next presidential debate in Atlanta. Candidates need to hit 3 percent in four recognized national polls to make the debate stage in November. O’Rourke has hit that mark in two polls since Sept. 13. He needs to hit 3 percent in two more polls before Nov. 13. In December, candidates will have to hit 4 percent or more.

O’Rourke has been in all four of the previous debates.

Read more: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/texas/article/Beto-O-Rourke-plans-Iowa-push-as-deadline-to-14639637.php