With only a few days left to qualify for the second Republican debate, Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND) has yet to meet the threshold but said he’ll continue his presidential campaign regardless of whether he takes the stage.

“We’re going to be on the ballot in Iowa and New Hampshire whether we are part of this debate or not,” Burgum said while campaigning with Gov. Chris Sununu (R-NH) on the primary trail in New Hampshire this week.

BIDEN FTC FACES LAWSUIT FOR SUPPRESSING ELON MUSK RECORDS

Burgum made the debate stage last month despite suffering a basketball injury earlier in the day, sending him to the hospital. The Republican underdog is one of two lowest-polling candidates, alongside former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

The North Dakota governor is scrambling to meet the updated criteria from the Republican National Committee to attend the second primary debate, which will be held in Simi Valley on Sept. 27.

The RNC requires polling at 3% in two national polls or 3% in one national poll, along with 3% in one early state poll from two separate early-voting states — Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina. The committee elevated the polling threshold from the first debate, which was 1% in the same categories. The RNC also increased the donor qualification from 40,000 to 50,000 unique donors.

He criticized the RNC’s national polling requirement as a “goofy clubhouse rule,” arguing it should be the voters that determine the support of a candidate.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

“It shouldn’t be political polls,” Burgum said. “It shouldn’t be the pundits. It shouldn’t be party leaders to decide who gets to be on the ballot. It should be the voters to decide who to support.”

Burgum's campaign team has said he is still on track to qualify for the debate, clarifying he has cleared the donor threshold but has yet to reach the polling mark.