RNC confirms the four Republican candidates who will debate Wednesday in Alabama

Four Republican hopefuls for the presidency will participate Wednesday in the fourth presidential primary debate on the campus of the University of Alabama.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, businessperson Vivek Ramaswamy, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie met the Republican National Committee (RNC) criteria to be on the stage during the debate inside the Frank Moody Music Hall. The debate runs from 7-9 p.m. and will be broadcast on NewsNation.

The Dec. 6, 2023, Republican presidential primary debate will be moderated by (from left to right): the Washington Free Beacon’s Eliana Johnson, NewsNation’s Elizabeth Vargas, and SiriusXM’s Megyn Kelly.Image provided by NewsNation

Moderators are NewsNation anchor Elizabeth Vargas, media personality Megyn Kelly and Eliana Johnson, editor-in-chief of the conservative Washington Free Beacon.

“The fourth debate is another fantastic opportunity for our Republican candidates to share our winning agenda with the American people,” RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a statement announcing the four participants. “President Reagan was the first sitting president to visit the University of Alabama nearly 40 years ago, just before cruising to a landslide victory in 1984, and I’m thrilled to return our conservative message to Tuscaloosa on Wednesday night.”

Reagan visited the University of Alabama for a rollicking re-election rally on Oct. 15, 1984. The rally featured the president sporting an Alabama coat with “The Gipper 1″ stitched to the back and parading around the campus with “Big Al,” the famed University of Alabama mascot. It’s also remembered for Reagan’s post-rally stop to a McDonald’s restaurant in Northport. Footage of that visit that is documented online by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

Trump, the former president who holds a commanding lead in primary polling, will not be in Alabama on Wednesday. He is reportedly scheduled to be involved in a fundraising event in Florida.

According to Politico, Christie’s inclusion in the debate came at the last minute, after he apparently crossed the polling threshold to participate ahead of Monday. The RNC’s rules say candidates must hit at least 6% in polls that meet the committee’s requirements, and a Politico analysis late last week suggested Christie risked not meeting it. The Christie campaign said the candidate easily met the RNC’s donor requirements to participate.

The RealClear Politics average of national polls has Christie at 2.5%, well below the 6%. Ramaswamy, according to RealClear Politics, also falls below the 6%. FiveThirtyEight.com has Christie at 2.8%, Ramaswamy at 5.3%.