"RNC Raises Bar for GOP Candidates as Field Shrinks Ahead of Next Debate"

As the second Republican presidential debate approaches, some candidates are feeling the pressure to drop out as the field continues to shrink. Six candidates have qualified for the debate, while former President Donald Trump has chosen to skip it. The debate is seen as a crucial moment for candidates to break out and gain attention and donations, but staying in the primary will only get harder. The criteria for qualifying for the debate are more restrictive, and time is running out for candidates to emerge as a Trump alternative. Trump maintains a dominant lead in the polls, and attacks from his rivals have had little impact. The real danger for candidates is to have a "backsliding" moment, which could be the end for them. The hope for a consensus alternative to Trump has not yet materialized, and the outcome of the primary remains uncertain.