O'Malley risks exclusion in upcoming Democratic debate

Mr. O'Malley is now at 5 percent in Iowa, according to an average of the polls accepted by NBC News, but falls from that benchmark both nationally and in New Hampshire.

If he failed to meet the qualifications, it would be just the latest snub for O'Malley, who has complained that the Democratic National Committee limited the field to just six debates, a sum he believes was reached to shield front runner Hillary Clinton from additional contests.

News put out eligibility rules Friday for the next Democratic presidential debate - and it may be hard for Martin O'Malley to make the stage. If his numbers drop in Iowa, and if he fails to lift them elsewhere, he will not qualify for the January 17 debate. The official said NBC would likely round O'Malley's total up if subsequent polls lowered his average a few tenths of a percent. In Iowa, he registers at 6.3%, above NBC's threshold, but that average is in part propped up by his 10% support in a Gravis Marketing poll, which is not on NBC's list of Iowa polls that it will take into consideration.

"What's fair is fair", Bernie Sanders tweeted.

Spokespeople for the O'Malley campaign have yet to comment on the network's criteria.

All three Democratic presidential candidates vied for Nevadans' votes Wednesday at a dinner at the MGM Grand held in preparation for Nevada's February 20 caucus, which is the third in the nation and first in the West. NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt will moderate.