The Republican candidate gimmicks to get on the debate stage

Republican presidential candidates are coming up with creative ways to expand their donor base to ensure they're able to participate in the first GOP debate in August. 

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum is offering $20 giftcards to those who donate $1 to the longshot's campaign - dubbing the effort Biden relief cards to tackle 'Bidenflation.' 

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy vowed to democratize political fundraising in a video message Monday, promising self-appointed bundlers he would pay them back 10 percent of the fundraising dollars they raise from others. 

While the candidates get credit for innovation, it also helps them satisfy the Republican National Committee's donor requirement rules to participate in the August 23 debate in Milwaukee. 

The RNC announced in June that Milwaukee debate participants must have a minimum of 40,000 unique donors with at least 200 donors per at least 20 states. 

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum is giving donors $20 giftcards if they donate $1 to his campaign. He says it's to tackle 'Bidenflation,' but he also needs 40,000 unique donors with at least 200 donors per at least 20 states to make the August debate stage 

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy said in a video Monday that he would give 10 percent back to those who bundled funds for his campaign. He said it was to democratize political fundraising, but he'll need to expand his donor base to make it onto the debate stage 

Polling from July 1 on also helps candidates get on the debate stage. 

They must be polling at 1 percent in at least three national polls or at 1 percent in two nationals polls and an early state poll - in Iowa, New Hamphire, Nevada or South Carolina. 

The surveys have to be recognized by the RNC.

The final national poll in June, conducted by Fox News, has former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Tim Scott, former Amb. Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and conservative talk radio host Larry Elder  polling at 1 percent or above. 

Burgum wasn't yet polling at 1 percent.

Neither were newcomer candidates - former Rep. Will Hurd and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez.

Morning Consult's weekly tracking poll, conducted between July 7-9, has Trump at 56 percent, DeSantis at 17 percent, Ramaswamy at 8 percent, Pence at 7 percent, Haley, Scott and Christie at 3 percent and Hutchinson at 1 percent. 

The other candidates were below 1 percent.  

Candidates will submit the polling and donor information to the RNC closer to the debate date and they have 48 hours before the first debate to submit their qualifications. 

Some campaigns that DailyMail.com reached out to expressed confidence they were already in. 

DeSantis' campaign told DailyMail.com that he's already satisfied the donor requirements. 

Ramaswamy's campaign said he already has more than 65,000 donors, pushing that his 'democratization' plan wasn't a gimmick to get on the debate stage. 

Scott's campaign pointed to a TV hit he did Monday, telling Fox News that he'd meet the requirements.  

Haley's campaign told DailyMail.com that she would be onstage as well. 

The former South Carolina governor and U.N. ambassador has brought in nearly 160,000 donations for her presidential campaign, with donors residing in all 50 states. 

Former President Donald Trump has indicated he's likely to skip the first debate because all of his rivals are badly trailing him in the polls. 

In an interview with Reuters last month he hinted he may engage in some counter-programming instead. 

'We've had a lot of offers, whether it's a rally or whether it's an interview by somebody else,' he said. 'Not to be braggadocious but the debate will not be a very exciting one if I'm not there.'