Written by Gram Slattery
Republican presidential hopefuls are set to square off in the fourth debate of their party’s 2024 nominating contest next Wednesday.
Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming debate:
WHERE WILL IT TAKE PLACE?
The debate is scheduled to be held at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa at 7 p.m. local time (0100 GMT). This event will be hosted by a subscription-based television network, NewsNation, along with the conservative political journal, the Washington Free Beacon, The Megyn Kelly Show on Sirius XM, and Rumble, a video hosting service popular among conservatives.
For the first time, the Republican National Committee is experimenting with holding this debate on platforms like NewsNation and Rumble, as opposed to the major news networks that hosted the first three debates.
Alabama, a heavily Republican state, will not be a battleground in the 2024 general election. However, it does hold an earlier primary contest, set for March 5.
WHO WILL PARTICIPATE?
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley, who are vying for second place in the primary race, will participate in the debate. Tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy is also close to making the cut.
The absence of former President Donald Trump, who leads the field by a wide margin in most polls, diminishes the significance of the debate. Trump has opted out of the previous debates, urging the party to focus on the general election.
No other candidates are expected to qualify for the debate stage.
Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, who qualified for the third debate, has since dropped out. Additionally, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who participated in the third debate, is struggling to meet the polling threshold.
Unlike previous debates, Trump has no intention of holding his own event to counter-program, according to Trump’s co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita.
WILL THE DEBATE MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
Ultimately, any candidate aiming for the nomination will need to make headway against Trump’s substantial lead, especially since he won’t be present at the debate. The Iowa caucuses, the first contest of the primary campaign, are scheduled for January 15.
DeSantis leads Haley in most national surveys, but Haley is well ahead of DeSantis in the early nominating states of New Hampshire and South Carolina. Her surge in opinion polls over the past few months contrasts with DeSantis’ stagnation.
A strong showing by either candidate during the debate could potentially break the stalemate and garner more support from Republicans looking to move beyond Trump. However, the significance of debates has varied historically, and a standout performance is not guaranteed to reshape the race for the runner-up.
(Reporting by Gram Slattery, editing by Ross Colvin and Jonathan Oatis)
