Four candidates faced off in the fourth Republican presidential debate Wednesday night, knowing they are running out of time to make an impression on voters weeks out from the first nomination contest in Iowa.
As the smallest field yet, the four met the Republican National Committee’s qualifications to make the debate stage in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida and former U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley are out to prove they are the best bet for Republicans who are looking for an alternative to former President Donald Trump.
Vivek Ramaswamy, a former biotech CEO, and former Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, meanwhile, are out to prove that there is a good reason for them to stick around.
For the fourth straight time, Mr. Trump refused to debate his rivals and was a no-show at the two-hour debate, which hosted by NewsNation and moderated by former Fox News star Megyn Kelly.
Less than six weeks out from the Iowa caucuses, the debate Wednesday offered the non-Trump contenders one of their last best opportunities this year to speak directly to a broad audience of Republican voters.
They are betting the race will tighten and Mr. Trump’s support will soften over the next month as voters start paying more attention to the 2024 election.
Mr. Trump has held consistent, and massive, leads in both national and early state polls.
Mr. DeSantis is running second in Iowa - roughly 29 points behind Mr. Trump. Ms. Haley is running second in New Hampshire - 27 points behind Mr. Trump.
The Trump absence put more of the spotlight on the battle between Mr. DeSantis and Ms. Haley for the mantle of chief Trump rival.
Previewing a possible line of attack, Mr. DeSantis has been challenging Ms. Haley’s conservative credentials.
“I’m the true conservative in the race,” Mr. DeSantis said this week on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle.” “I have the strongest record of actually delivering results.
“I think Nikki Haley really represents the last gasp of a failed establishment. She’s out of step with a vast, vast majority of Republican voters.”
The Haley campaign, in recent days, has accused Mr. DeSantis of espousing lies about her record, saying it reflects his sputtering candidacy.
They also have highlighted polls showing Ms. Haley is a stronger general election candidate against President Biden, and news reports about the turmoil inside a pro-DeSantis super PAC that had been billed as his secret weapon.
“I think he went after my record as governor because he’s losing,” Ms. Haley said during a recent appearance on Fox News. “I mean who else can spend a hundred million dollars and drop half in the polls?”
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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