Seven Republican presidential candidates appear to have qualified for the first debate in four weeks while others are still working to clear the thresholds set by the party.

Among those on the outside looking in is former Vice President Mike Pence. 

Pence says he has met the polling requirement but has yet to meet the fundraising mark. 

To qualify for the Aug. 23 Fox News debate in Milwaukee, candidates must reach 1% in three national polls or 1% in two national polls and two polls in early-voting states, and they must collect donations from at least 40,000 unique donors, including at least 200 donors in 20 or more states or territories. They have until 48 hours before the debate to qualify.

Hopefuls also must sign a pledge that they would support the eventual nominee if they don’t win the nomination.

To date, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former President Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina have qualified, according to analysis by FiveThirtyEight.com or their campaigns. 

In addition to Pence, conservative radio host Larry Elder, former U.S. Rep. Will Hurd of Texas, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez have yet to meet the requirements.

Pence’s national polling average, according to FiveThirtyEight, is 4.6%. He told CNN last weekend he is confident he’ll meet the fundraising threshold. 

“We're literally working around the clock,” Pence said.

“We're making incredible progress toward that goal. We're not there yet. … We will make it. I will see you at that debate stage.”

To try to get over the hump, Pence, in television interviews, stump speeches and social media posts, has repeatedly been urging supporters to donate at least $1 to his campaign.

“Do you want traditional Conservative values represented on the debate stage? Then we need YOU to donate $1 today,” Pence posted Wednesday on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Burgum and Ramaswamy are the latest candidates to become eligible, both assisted by creative fundraising incentives. 

Burgum offered $20 Visa or Mastercard gift cards to anyone who donated at least $1 to his campaign, and Ramaswamy is giving supporters 10% commissions on money they raise for his campaign.

“Governor Burgum is looking forward to sharing his focus on the economy, energy and national security at the August debate,” campaign spokesman Lance Trover said in a statement Tuesday announcing Burgum qualified. 

Ramaswamy, a political newcomer who trails only Trump and DeSantis in recent primary polls, has received donations from 65,000 unique donors, his campaign said.

Suarez has begun borrowing a page from Burgum’s playbook by also now offering $20 gift cards in exchange for $1 donations.

But arguably the biggest question about the debate is whether Trump will be on the stage. The former president has suggested he might skip the event, citing his large lead in the polls.

“Why would you let someone who’s at zero or 1 or 2 or 3(%) be popping you with questions?” he recently told Fox News.

According to the FiveThirtyEight average, Trump is polling at 52.4%, followed by DeSantis at 15.5%. No other candidate is above 7%.

Several Fox News personalities, including Steve Doocy, Brian Kilmeade, John Roberts and Piers Morgan, have been urging Trump to participate. 

“It’s the democratic process,” Roberts said on air Monday. “You want voters to get a look at all the candidates, and if you want to prove that you are the candidate that they should vote for, well, then let’s see how you react to the questions that are being asked.”

Trump has not said whether he’d sign the pledge to support a Republican nominee who is not himself. In 2016, he vowed to endorse the eventual nominee but later changed his mind, saying it would depend on the candidate.

The only candidate who has definitively ruled out signing the pledge is Hurd, who has said he cannot support Trump.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has said he will sign the pledge but has suggested he won’t honor it if Trump is the nominee.

“I will do what I need to do to be up on that stage,” Christie told CNN last month.