Politics

GOP Candidates, Minus Trump, Spar at Fourth Debate

DEC 7 2023·Updated DEC 8 2023

Story

Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News via Getty Images

The Facts

Four Republican presidential hopefuls took to the stage at the University of Alabama on Wednesday night as the GOP held its fourth primary debate. The candidates sparred over issues including the war in Gaza, transgender medical treatment for minors, and government censorship.
Al Jazeera
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former South Carolina Gov. and UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie participated in the fourth GOP debate which saw the party's smallest field. Former Pres. Donald Trump, the overwhelming frontrunner for the Republican nomination, skipped the debate again and held a closed-door fundraiser in Florida instead.
ABC News
Haley came under fire early in the debate from DeSantis and Ramaswamy for her refusal to ban transgender procedures for minors, which Haley denies. Ramaswamy continually called Haley corrupt for her position on the board of Boeing and held up a handmade sign that read "Nikki = Corrupt."
ap
Christie came to Haley's defense and attacked Ramaswamy for his criticisms of her. He also called out Trump, whom he says his fellow Republican contenders should be targeting— he said that his three competitors on the stage may be afraid of calling out Trump "because they have future aspirations."
CNN
The debate aired on NewsNation and was moderated by former Fox News host Megyn Kelly, anchor Elizabeth Vargas, and Eliana Johnson of the Washington Free Beacon. Kelly promised to ask tough but fair questions to the candidates and received overwhelmingly positive reviews from Republican viewers.
The Washington Examiner
While viewers were largely split over whom they believed won the debate, with more establishment figures voicing support for Christie and Haley, while mainstream conservatives favored DeSantis and pro-Trump pundits backed Ramaswamy. However, many pro-Trump personalities said the former president won the debate despite not physically attending.
FOX News

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Wednesday’s debate was filled with chaos and personal attacks, but Haley and Christie preserved some level of decency amid the mudslinging. Meanwhile, Ramaswamy used his time to peddle far-right conspiracy theories while making misogynistic remarks about Haley and mocking Christie. While Trump is still the frontrunner in the GOP, Haley and Christie provided a welcomed sight of maturity and experience. Both candidates were poised and presidential, and it may be Haley overtaking second place to be the "non-chaotic" alternative to the former president.

wapo

Narrative B

Ramaswamy delivered a borderline revolutionary debate performance that rivaled the awakening Trump started in 2015. While his three competitors voiced mildly different variations of mainstream conservatism, Ramaswamy attacked the key issues that no one has wanted to address, and that scares the establishment more than anything. Not only did Ramaswamy attack his opponents’ corruption but he called out the failed neocon policies of the past — the GOP establishment is hissing because they know that Vivek spoke real truth to power.

The Gateway Pundit