The fourth Republican primary debate is set to take place in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, featuring four candidates: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Notably, former President Donald Trump, who is leading in the polls, has chosen not to participate in the debate. Instead, he will be attending a private fundraiser in Florida.
The debate will be moderated by Elizabeth Vargas, Megyn Kelly, and Eliana Johnson, and will be broadcast on NewsNation's website and streaming platforms. The topics of discussion will cover foreign policy, including the Israel-Hamas conflict and Ukraine funding, as well as the issue of abortion. The term 'woke' may make a comeback in this debate, as two candidates have built their brands on opposing woke policies.
To qualify for the debate, candidates needed at least 80,000 unique donors and had to sign the 'Beat Biden' pledge. The candidates had to meet higher donor and polling criteria set by the Republican National Committee to qualify for the debate. With the field getting smaller, the remaining candidates have a chance to distinguish themselves and demonstrate a viable path to the nomination. The event will focus on their ability to challenge Trump as the Iowa caucuses and GOP nomination balloting approach.
The viewership for the GOP debates has been declining, and Trump's absence has allowed him to maintain his lead. Despite this, the remaining candidates will have the opportunity to take on Trump's policies and positions in his absence, potentially reshaping the race as the Iowa caucuses and GOP nomination balloting approach.