Democrats talk with reporters before GOP debate in SC

In tweets from their campaign staffs, Clinton and Sanders both called for O’Malley to be included in the debate hours after the criteria was announced.

Democrats take their turn Sunday night with a debate at the Gaillard Center in downtown Charleston.

O’Malley’s weakening poll numbers threatened to keep him from joining Sanders and Clinton on stage, NBC News noted.

This is marks the fifth time that Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley have met on the stage: three matchups officially organized by the DNC and one informal “forum” put together by cable news channel MSNBC.

The candidates campaigned in South Carolina Saturday attending the annual fish fry hosted by Congressman Jim Clyburn.

The debate, scheduled for 8 p.m. Sunday, is in the same slot as PBS’ popular period drama “Downton Abbey” and airs right after two National Football League playoff games. NBC News’ chief foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell will also ask questions and others will be submitted by YouTube users.

-This report was updated at 12:34 p.m. News political director and Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd will anchor pre- and post-debate coverage, joined by NBC News White House correspondent Kristen Welker.

The debate comes just three days after the GOP presidential contenders held their own debate in nearby North Charleston. Those who have Roku connected to their TV sets can watch it through the NBC News App, while Apple TV users can search the tvOS App Store for “NBC News”.