Six Republicans qualify for the debate stage

GREENVILLE, S.C., Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Only one GOP presidential candidate will be left out of Saturday's debate -- Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore, whose poll numbers continue to be too low to participate.

The debate in Greenville, S.C., will feature Donald Trump, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former HP CEO Carly Fiorina dropped out of the race this week. Neither was expected to meet the criteria for the debate, which will not feature an undercard debate for lower polling candidates.

Candidates had to meet one of the following criteria to participate:

-- Make the top five in the New Hampshire primary popular vote.

-- Make the top three in the Iowa caucus popular vote.

-- Place in the top five in an average of South Carolina polls taken between Jan. 15 and Feb. 12, as well as poll at no less than 3 percent in Iowa, New Hampshire or South Carolina or national polls.

Saturday's debate, which airs at 9 p.m. ET on CBS, is the last before the Republican primary in South Carolina on Feb. 20.