Doug Burgum to play hurt

North Dakota governor Doug Burgum makes an appearance in the Media Filing Center at the Fox News sponsored first GOP debate. (Photo by Paul L. Gleiser)

North Dakota governor Doug Burgum suffered a high-grade Achilles heel tear yesterday while playing in a pickup basketball game with his staff. As a consequence of that injury, he is on crutches today and has said that he might have to sit for tonight’s debate.

The governor made his way through the Media Center and Spin Room on crutches, without apparent undue difficulty.

Burgum made the debate stage by the thinnest of margins. His polling according to the Real Clear Politics average of national polls stands at just one percent, the minimum necessary to qualify to be on the stage.