Final presidential debate sees Republican field reduced to four candidates

The final Republican presidential primary debate in Alabama will feature only four candidates: Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Chris Christie, and Vivek Ramaswamy. The debate, the fourth of the primary race, required candidates to have 80,000 donors and 6% in two US polls. Republican frontrunner Donald Trump is once again skipping the debate. With the field narrowing and the Iowa caucus approaching, candidates are feeling the pressure to prove themselves against Trump for the Republican nomination. The debate will be hosted by NewsNation and moderated by a panel of conservative-leaning journalists. Former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson missed out on a spot on the stage. Calls are growing for Christie to exit the race and support another candidate.