The fourth GOP primary debate on Wednesday night will feature the smallest field yet: Only four candidates will qualify for the showdown in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, biotech mogul Vivek Ramaswamy and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie met minimum benchmarks for debate, the National Committee announced Republican on Monday night.
The debate will take place on Wednesday at 7 pm CT at the University of Alabama.
It will be presented by NewsNation and moderated by host Elizabeth Vargas, podcast host and SiriusXM radio personality Megyn Kelly and Washington Free Beacon editor-in-chief Eliana Johnson.
The RNC required candidates to earn at least 6% support in two national polls, up from 4% (or 6% support in a national poll and an early state poll in two separate early states, including Iowa, New Hampshire , South Carolina and Nevada). .
The benchmark also required 2024 hopefuls to receive a minimum of 80,000 donors with at least 200 unique donors in 20 states/territories.
Republican presidential candidate and former UN ambassador Nikki Haley raises her hand toward Vivek Ramaswamy as he speaks to her as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (center) listens during the Republican presidential primary debate in Miami. Getty Images Republican presidential candidate and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie speaks at the Hudson Institute on November 15, 2023. Getty Images
It was unclear whether Christie would qualify for the debate given his poll numbers, but the former governor managed to gather enough traction to join the other candidates on stage.
Christie has particularly high poll numbers in New Hampshire, at 11.3%, good enough for third place behind Trump (45.7%) and Haley (18.7%), according to average data from RealClearPolitics .
Former President Donald Trump will skip the forum, in line with his record in all other 2024 debates so far. Instead, he will hold a closed-door fundraiser on Wednesday night and have a public meeting with Fox News’ Sen. Hannity on Tuesday night, a source close to the Trump campaign told The Post.
Trump leads the Republican candidates by more than 40 points and has previously expressed that the RNC should suspend all future debates to focus on defeating President Biden.
Haley and Ramaswamy clashed verbally in the latest debate over TikTok and their daughter. AP DeSantis and Ramaswamy before last month’s debate in Miami. AP
The small number of debate candidates points to a narrowing of the field, as several White House hopefuls and former debate participants have dropped out of the race.
Since the third Republican debate in Miami, Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) suspended his campaign after failing to obtain high poll numbers or sufficient funds.
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum announced on Monday the suspension of his campaign after failing to qualify for the stage.
Other candidates who dropped out of the race include former Vice President Mike Pence, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, former Texas Rep. Will Hurd, radio host Larry Elder and businessman Perry Johnson.
Former President Donald Trump tosses hats to the crowd during a caucus event, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. AP
Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and businessman Ryan Binkley are still in the race, despite not meeting the requirements for the debate stage.
Hutchinson was unsuccessful in his attempts at qualification after the first debate and Binkley never met the criteria.
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