A bigger stage and higher stakes for the fourth Republican debate
The Fox News Network (Nation) Collaborative Comment on the Bounds on Early Primaries in the U.S. Senate Minority Elections
They had to have at least 80,000 unique donors — up from 70,000 for the third debate in November — and to reach 6 percent support either in two national polls or in one national poll and polls of two states with early primaries.
He is skipping the debate, as he did the first three. (Though he easily meets the polling and donor criteria, he technically hasn’t qualified because he has refused to sign a pledge to support the eventual Republican nominee.)
NewsNation and three other conservative groups will host the debate that was organized by the Republican National Committee.
NewsNation platforms include its TV, app and website, where the debate will be broadcast or streamed. NewsNation will also have analytical coverage anchored by the former CNN host Chris Cuomo for two hours before and two hours after the event, and will then rebroadcast the debate from midnight to 2 a.m. Eastern.
In the Eastern and Central time zones, it will be on the CW in a slot more commonly occupied by magic shows. It will be broadcasted on local CW affiliates in the Mountain and Pacific time zones.
The FL Senators vs. Donald Trump: A Make-or-Break Moment for a Pro-DeSantis SuperPAC
During the three previous debates, Trump hosted a rally or major interview. This time, in what looks to be another sign of just how confident he’s feeling in this primary, Trump is attending a private fundraiser in Florida – as Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, debates the rest of Trump’s challengers in Alabama.
McHenry thinks it’s a make-or-break moment, particularly for DeSantis, who’d once been seen as the most likely Republican hopeful to take on Trump. But McHenry points to a recent shakeup at a pro-DeSantis super PAC, and the fact that Haley seems to have stepped into that role based on polling and support from donors like the Koch network.
Republican pollster Jon McHenry of North Star Opinion Research believes there’s still a narrow opening for an alternative, “as much as Donald Trump is trying to force it closed and lock it.”
As the field keeps getting smaller, the remaining candidates will have more time to try to distinguish themselves and demonstrate they have a viable path to the nomination, despite Trump’s dominance.
The participants will be former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. As before, former President Donald Trump won’t be there.
After missing last month’s debate and again failing to qualify for this one, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum dropped out of the race this week. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott dropped out of the debate.
