With less than a month to go until the first Republican presidential debate of the 2024 campaign, seven candidates say they have met the qualifications for a spot on stage in Milwaukee.But that also means that about half the broad GOP field is running short on time to make the cut.To qualify for the Aug. 23 debate, candidates needed to satisfy polling and donor requirements set by the Republican National Committee: at least 1% in three high-quality national polls or a mix of national and early-state polls, between July 1 and Aug. 21, and a minimum of 40,000 donors, with 200 in 20 or more states.Former President Donald Trump, the current front-runner, long ago satisfied the polling and donor thresholds. But he is considering boycotting and holding a competing event.Campaign advisers have said the former president has not made a final decision about the debate. One noted its clear based on Trump’s public and private statements, that he is unlikely to appear with the other candidates.Florida governor Ron DeSantis has long been seen as Trump’s top rival, finishing a distant second to him in a series of polls in early-voting states, as well as national polls, and raising an impressive amount of money.But DeSantis’ campaign has struggled in recent weeks to live up to the sky-high expectations that awaited him when he entered the race. He let go of more than one-third of his staff as federal filings showed his campaign was burning through cash at an unsustainable rate.If Trump is absent, DeSantis may be the top target on stage at the debate.Other GOP presidential candidates who have qualified for the Milwaukee debate include Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum.There are some notable Republican candidates who are also still working to meet the qualifications needed to appear on the debate stage."Those include former Vice President Mike Pence and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson," said Associated Press reporter Meg Kinnard."Both men have met the polling requirements needed for the debate, but still haven't gotten 40,000 unique donors. They have until August 21st to do so."