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Martin O'Malley Qualifies for 2016 NBC News Debate

Struggling Democratic presidential hopeful Martin O’Malley has qualified for Sunday’s NBC News-YouTube debate, the network announced Thursday.
Image: Former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley announces his intention to seek the Democratic presidential nomination in Baltimore, Maryland
Former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley announces his intention to seek the Democratic presidential nomination during a speech in Federal Hill Park in Baltimore, Maryland, United States, May 30, 2015. O'Malley, 52, becomes the third candidate to officially bid for the Democratic nomination, joining Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT). REUTERS/Jim Bourg JIM BOURG / Reuters
By Andrew Rafferty

Democratic presidential hopeful Martin O’Malley has qualified for Sunday’s NBC News-YouTube debate, the network announced Thursday.

O’Malley’s faltering poll numbers threatened to keep him from joining Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders on stage for the fourth Democratic debate. An NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll released this week found O’Malley at five percent support among likely caucus goers in Iowa, well behind Clinton (48 percent) and Sanders (45 percent).

To qualify, candidates needed to reach five percent in recent national polls or surveys of Iowa, New Hampshire, or South Carolina.

The first Democratic debate of 2016 comes as Clinton and Sanders are locked in a hotly contested primary in Iowa and New Hampshire -- the first two contests of the primary.

The debate will air Sunday on NBC at 9:00 p.m. ET from Charleston, S.C.

Andrew Rafferty

Andrew Rafferty has been a political reporter for NBCNews.com since 2013. Rafferty writes and reports on politics for the web, and shoots and produces video for all NBC platforms. 

Prior to joining NBCNews.com, Rafferty was a campaign reporter covering the 2012 presidential election. Rafferty was on the road for both the Republican primaries and general election, providing content for both the web and television. 

Rafferty began at NBC News through a fellowship at "Meet The Press." 

He is from Buffalo, N.Y., and attended John Carroll University in Ohio.