COLUMBIA, S.C. (NEWSnet/AP) — The field of candidates for the fourth Republican presidential debate is the smallest to date.
Four hopefuls will participate in the debate Wednesday at Moody Music Hall at University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, according to Republican National Committee.
To qualify, candidates need at least 6% support in two national polls or 6% in one national poll as well as two polls from four of the early-voting states — Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.
All polls used for qualification must be approved by RNC.
The hopefuls also need to have at least 80,000 unique donors, with at least 200 of those coming from 20 states or territories, and sign an RNC pledge promising to support the party’s eventual nominee.
Here's a look at where candidates stand.
Ron DeSantis: Initially seen as the top rival for Donald Trump, DeSantis has been locked in a battle for a distant second place to the front-runner,. Last weekend, several staff members severed ties with the super PAC that has sustained much of DeSantis’ efforts, notably in Iowa, where DeSantis shifted some of his Florida-based campaign staff and where he completed a goal of holding events in all 99 counties.
Nikki Haley: Benefiting from increased attention and the campaign’s shift toward foreign policy, Haley is angling to continue that trend with the debate.
Vivek Ramaswamy: The political newcomer and youngest GOP hopeful has been a debate-stage target of attacks on his lack of experience. Ramaswamy has had fiery debate-night clashes with Haley, and there could be more Wednesday night.
Chris Christie: The 2024 race’s most vocal critic of Trump, Christie has cast himself as the only Republican willing to challenge the former president directly.
Who will not participate, again: Donald Trump. The current GOP front-runner is skipping the debate for the fourth time. He plans to hold a closed-door campaign fundraiser in Florida.
Who qualified for previous debates, but not this one: Asa Hutchinson, former governor of Arkansas.
Who dropped out since the previous debate: Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina; Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota.
Copyright 2023 NEWSnet and The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (NEWSnet/AP) — The field of candidates for the fourth Republican presidential debate is the smallest to date.
Four hopefuls will participate in the debate Wednesday at Moody Music Hall at University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, according to Republican National Committee.
To qualify, candidates need at least 6% support in two national polls or 6% in one national poll as well as two polls from four of the early-voting states — Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.
All polls used for qualification must be approved by RNC.
The hopefuls also need to have at least 80,000 unique donors, with at least 200 of those coming from 20 states or territories, and sign an RNC pledge promising to support the party’s eventual nominee.
A look at where the candidates stand.
Ron DeSantis: Initially seen as the top rival for Donald Trump, DeSantis has been locked in a battle for a distant second place to the front-runner,. Last weekend, several staff members severed ties with the super PAC that has sustained much of DeSantis’ efforts, notably in Iowa, where DeSantis shifted some of his Florida-based campaign staff and where he completed a goal of holding events in all 99 counties.
Nikki Haley: Benefiting from increased attention and the campaign’s shift toward foreign policy, Haley is angling to continue that trend with the debate.
Vivek Ramaswamy: The political newcomer and youngest GOP hopeful has been a debate-stage target of attacks on his lack of experience. Ramaswamy has had fiery debate-night clashes with Haley, and there could be more Wednesday night.
Chris Christie: The 2024 race’s most vocal critic of Trump, Christie has cast himself as the only Republican willing to challenge the former president directly.
Who will not participate, again: Donald Trump. The current GOP front-runner is skipping the debate for the fourth time. He plans to hold a closed-door campaign fundraiser in Florida.
Who qualified for previous debates, but not this one: Asa Hutchinson, former governor of Arkansas.
Who dropped out since the previous debate: Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina; Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota.
Copyright 2023 NEWSnet and The Associated Press. All rights reserved.