Alabama to host fourth GOP presidential debate, candidates to spar in Tuscaloosa

Alabama to host fourth GOP presidential debate, candidates to spar in Tuscaloosa

Alabama is hosting the fourth Republican presidential debate, with candidates set to spar next month in Tuscaloosa, according to a report.

In a memo sent to campaigns on Friday and obtained by The Associated Press, Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel said the fourth debate would take place Dec. 6 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

A venue has not been announced, but the University of Alabama said in a statement to AL.com it is under consideration to host the debate.

“It is our understanding The University of Alabama is being considered as a potential site for the upcoming Republican National Committee primary debate, but no formal agreement has been made,” said UA spokesperson Alex House. “As a public institution, UA promotes free speech and facilitates numerous opportunities for civil discourse and presentation of diverse ideas. If this event is later confirmed, our campus would be pleased to serve as a neutral site for the debate, and hosting the event would not be an endorsement of any candidate or political party.”

To make the stage, candidates must garner at least 6% in two approved national polls, or 6% in one poll from two separate early-voting states: Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.

According to the memo, first reported by The New York Times, participants also need to amass at least 80,000 unique donors, with at least 200 unique donors per state or territory, in 20 or more states.Candidates have until 48 hours before the debate to satisfy the requirements.

The Republican National Committee did not publicly announce details on the fourth debate as of Friday afternoon.

The RNC released qualifying criteria for the fourth debate but did not mention specifics on where the event would take place.

Alabama had been previously mentioned as possible debate sites, with former South Carolina Gov. and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and ex-Gov. Chris Christie revealing that a debate would be hosted in Alabama. Christie specifically mentioned Tuscaloosa as the location of a debate.

But both Haley and Christie said the third debate would be held in Alabama. The event is actually being held next week in Miami.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.