Haley draws fire in 4th GOP debate, Christie warns absent Trump is biggest issue

The Iowa caucuses are weeks away; the former president remains the favorite.

By538 and ABC News
Last Updated: December 6, 2023, 7:43 PM EST

With voting set to start in the 2024 Republican primary in less than six weeks, four of the top candidates again took the stage for a debate -- this time on Wednesday night in Tuscaloosa, Alabama -- and the event proved to be fiery.

Hosted by NewsNation and moderated by Elizabeth Vargas, Megyn Kelly and Eliana Johnson, the debate featured Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. The primary's front-runner, former President Donald Trump, continued to skip the event despite criticism from his rivals. He was fundraising in Florida.

ABC News and the analysts at 538 live-blogged every major moment and highlight from the debate. PolitiFact made real-time fact checks.

Key moments:

Here's how the news developed. All times Eastern.
Dec 06, 2023, 7:43 PM EST

Haley and Ramaswamy may keep their feud going

Haley and Ramaswamy -- who are both set to be on stage again -- have had multiple fiery exchanges so far in the GOP debates, and Wednesday could see more sparring.

Among their mutual jabs, during the second primary debate, in September, Haley said she felt "a little bit dumber" listening to the entrepreneur.

"TikTok is one of the most dangerous social media apps that we could have. I -- honestly, every time I hear you, I feel a little bit dumber for what you say," Haley said at one point, noting Ramaswamy's recent participation on TikTok despite his criticism of the platform.

Ramaswamy responded that the Republican Party would be better served "if we're not sitting here hurling personal insults and actually have a legitimate debate about policy."

PHOTO: Republican presidential candidate former Nikki Haley puts her hand up to Vivek Ramaswamy while he speaks to her as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (C) listens during the NBC News Republican Presidential Primary Debate, Nov. 8, 2023 in Miami.
Republican presidential candidate former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley puts her hand up to Vivek Ramaswamy while he speaks to her as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (C) listens during the NBC News Republican Presidential Primary Debate at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, Nov. 8, 2023 in Miami.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Discussions on the social media platform prompted another notable exchange during the third debate, last month. After Ramaswamy mentioned that Haley's daughter has used TikTok, despite criticism of the Chinese-owned app, Haley lashed out.

"Leave my daughter out of your voice," she said, adding with an eye roll: "You're just scum."

Ramaswamy took another swipe at Haley during the third debate, saying, "Do you want a leader from a different generation who's going to put this country first, or do you want Dick Cheney in three-inch heels?"

Haley responded, "I'd first like to say they're five-inch heels, and I don't wear them unless you can run in them. The second thing that I will say is, I wear heels, they're not for a fashion statement -- they're for ammunition."

-ABC News' Meredith Deliso

Dec 06, 2023, 7:40 PM EST

This looks like the last big event before voters start casting ballots

The debate is the final one scheduled by the Republican National Committee. In less than six weeks’ time, on Jan. 15, Iowa will hold its caucuses and, a week later, New Hampshire voters will go to the polls in their primary -- as the 2024 presidential race gets underway.

Candidates are eyeing these two January contests to get some liftoff with the public before Nevada and South Carolina hold their own contests in February, followed by Super Tuesday on March 5, when more than 10 states hold primary elections.

By then, just three months from now, a clear front-runner for the parties' eventual nominations very well could have emerged.

-ABC News’ Chris Boccia

Dec 06, 2023, 7:16 PM EST

Meet your debate fact-checker

I’m Katie Sanders, the editor-in-chief of PolitiFact. I’ll be chiming in with fact-checks throughout the debate, but know that I’m one of approximately 20 PolitiFact journalists watching for candidates’ exaggerations and false attacks -- the kind of moments that make you go “really?!” when you hear them.

We’re coming in fresh from covering last Thursday's Gavin Newsom-Ron DeSantis debate on Fox News. For this one, it's totally fine by me if the candidates want to stick to claims we've already covered. But we're ready for surprises.

-Katie Sanders, PolitiFact

Dec 06, 2023, 6:50 PM EST

Trump snubs opponents, again, to fundraise in Florida

Trump is skipping the chance to debate for the fourth time.

Instead of joining his challengers in Tuscaloosa, the former president will participate in a fundraiser in Hallandale Beach, Florida, for his campaign and his Save America PAC.

Trump offered some counterprogramming on Tuesday night with a town hall hosted by Fox News' Sean Hannity, during which he raised alarms by referring to himself as a "dictator" if elected, but only on "day one," saying his priorities would be closing the border and drilling.

-ABC News' Alexandra Hutzler

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