Four candidates qualify for fourth GOP debate: when and how to watch
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The fourth Republican presidential primary debate will take place Wednesday in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Four candidates will take the stage at 8 p.m. ET, hosted by NewsNation. It can be viewed on the NewsNation TV channel and will be streamed on their website.
The Republican National Committee announced the candidates who qualified Tuesday: former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy.
Candidates must have obtained 6% or higher in two national polls, or 6% in a single national poll and two early primary or caucusing states to qualify, NewsNation said. Those early states are Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.
The Iowa caucuses are on Jan. 15, 2024.
“The fourth debate is another fantastic opportunity for our Republican candidates to share our winning agenda with the American people,” said RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel. “President Reagan was the first sitting president to visit the University of Alabama nearly 40 years ago, just before cruising to a landslide victory in 1984, and I’m thrilled to return our conservative message to Tuscaloosa on Wednesday night.”
Additionally, the candidates must have signed a loyalty pledge to support the GOP nominee, and 80,000 or more unique donors, 200 of which must have come from 20 states and territories.
Notably, former President Donald Trump will not attend the debate. He has a commanding 48% lead over the next closest competitor, DeSantis, according to the RealClearPolitics average of polling. He also leads in every early primary or caucusing state.
