5 major takeaways - and one thing missing - from the fourth Republican debate

Republican presidential candidates from left, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy during a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by NewsNation on Wednesday at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Gerald Herbert / Gerald Herbert

If a debate happens without the person who is the far-and-away front runner, does it make a difference?

That’s… debatable.

With just 39 days to go until the first nominating contest, the fourth Republican presidential one took place in Tuscaloosa, Ala. It was between former Trump U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former tech CEO Vivek Ramaswamy and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.