POLITICS
4 Candidates Qualify For Fourth GOP Presidential Primary Debate In Alabama
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Four Republican candidates have qualified for the fourth GOP presidential primary debate on Wednesday in Tuscaloosa, Ala., as the once-crowded field narrows.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie have all qualified to appear at the debate hosted in partnership with NewsNation, The Megyn Kelly Show on SiriusXM, the Washington Free Beacon and Rumble.
Former President Donald Trump, who remains the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, will skip Wednesday’s debate, as he did the first three debates, and will instead attend a fundraiser in Hallandale Beach, Fla., for MAGA, Inc., a super PAC supporting his candidacy.
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson remains in the race, though he hasn’t qualified for a debate since the first one held in Milwaukee, Wis., in August.
In order to qualify for the fourth debate, candidates needed at least 80,000 unique donors, with at least 200 unique donors per state or territory in 20 or more states and territories, and has to reach at least 6% in two national polls or 6% in one national poll and 6% in one early state poll from two separate “carve out” states: Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, or South Carolina.
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum suspended his presidential campaign on Monday, after failing to qualify for the third debate in Miami, and lagging in polling.
None of their debate criteria relate to the qualifications related to actually doing the job of the president, Burgum said of the Republican National Committee, and their increasing requirements with each debate. He criticized the RNC’s clubhouse debate requirements for taking the power of democracy away from the engaged, thoughtful citizens of Iowa and New Hampshire.
While this primary process has shaken my trust in many media organizations and political party institutions, it has only strengthened my trust in America, he said. Our nation doesnt need to be perfect to be exceptional.
Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina dropped out of the race shortly after appearing in the third debate last month. Before that, former Vice President Mike Pence dropped out of the race.
TMX contributed to this article.
