Democrats hoping to take on Trump now down to 10

JUST 10 Democratic presidential hopefuls have qualified for the next televised debate, slashing the field in half and forcing a string of candidates to end their White House bids.

Kristen Gillibrand, 52, was among the high profile names to miss out. The New York senator announced her withdrawal on Wednesday.

Candidates needed donations from 130,000 different people and to have secured 2 per cent in at least four qualifying opinion polls to make it into next month’s debate in Houston.

The rules have been criticised by some candidates and campaigners, who have questioned whether it tilts the playing field in favour of established politicians. The leading contenders – including Joe Biden, the former US vice-president, Bernie Sanders, the Vermont senator, and Elizabeth Warren, the Massachusetts senator – made the cut.

It means there will be just one night of debates in Texas rather than the two that had been pencilled in.

The first votes in the Democratic Party’s primaries, which will pick who will take on Donald Trump in the Nov 2020 presidential election, will not be cast until Feb 2019.

Ms Gillibrand cited her failure to make next month’s debate when she quit the race. She told The New York Times: “Being able to have a voice on a debate stage, when other candidates have that, is really important. And without it, I just didn’t see our path.”

Candidates do not have to end their presidential bids if they fail to qualify for the debates. However, missing a platform to have your message taken in by millions of Americans is seen as a significant blow.