The third Republican debate tonight: How to watch
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The third Republican primary debate will take place on 8 November, broadcast by NBC News at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami.
To qualify, candidates need to reach at least four per cent in two national polls, or four per cent in one national poll and four per cent in two early primary states.
They also need 70,000 individual donors, including 200 donors in 20 states, according to the requirements set by the Republican National Committee (RNC).
Five candidates have qualified for the showdown, so far – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, biotech entrepreneur and woke-bashing author Vivek Ramaswamy, former UN Ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, and ex-New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
Former President Donald Trump has also qualified but has said that, like the first two debates, he won’t attend. He will instead hold a rally in Hialeah, Florida, not far from Miami, as a form of counter-programming.
Follow live for the latest updates as the showdown at 8pm on Wednesday draws nearer.
Key points
Republican candidates condemn Jan 6 – aside from Vivek Ramaswamy
Where the GOP presidential candidates stand on the war in Ukraine
GOP candidates walking the abortion line can’t dodge this one question
What the GOP candidates have said about the Israel-Hamas conflict
VIDEO: 5 Republicans face off in third GOP primary debate in Miami
16:00 , Gustaf Kilander
Jimmy Kimmel mocks ‘non-viable’ GOP debate candidates with Avengers jab
15:30 , Martha McHardy
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel gave his review of five GOP presidential candidates he described as “non-viable” on Tuesday night, ahead of the third Republican primary debate.
The third GOP presidential debate is due to take place in Miami on Wednesday. So far, front-runner Donald Trump, who is currently embroiled in a civil fraud trial in New York, has not attended any of the primary debates.
The former president has indicated he sees no point in participating in the debates given his substantial lead over the other candidates in the polls.
He is not expected to attend the debate in Miami on Wednesday.
In his Tuesday night show, Mr Kimmel reviewed Mr Trump’s contenders, describing them as “non-viable”.
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Chris Christie blames Trump ‘poison’ for GOP election losses
14:59 , Rachel Sharp
Former New Jersey governor and 2024 GOP hopeful Chris Christie has blamed Donald Trump’s “poison” for the Republican party’s disappointing results in the off-year elections.
Mr Christie, Mr Trump’s onetime staunch ally turned sworn nemesis, pointed out that the former president had endorsed Daniel Cameron in the Kentucky’s gubernatorial race – and that Mr Cameron then landed a major defeat in the red state.
“Cameron was a rising star in the Republican party until he decided to throw his lot in with Donald Trump,” he told CNN on Tuesday night.
“Let’s face it, Donald Trump is political and electoral poison down ballot.”
He added: “Any Republican who was overconfident about beating Joe Biden next year is a foolish Republican,” Christie said. “If he is the candidate for the Democratic Party, which it appears he will be, he will always be a difficult opponent.”
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Trump aims to upstage another GOP debate with Miami rally speech
14:31 , Gustaf.Kilander
Donald Trump’s rally in Hialeah, Florida, will begin just an hour before the third Republican primary debate is set to take place in nearby Miami.
Supporters of the former president began queueing before dawn on Wednesday, more than 12 hours before Mr Trump was set to take the stage at around 7pm at the Ted Hendricks Stadium in Henry Milander Park.
Considering the average lengths of Mr Trump’s meandering campaign speeches, it’s possible he’s still talking as his rivals for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination take the stage at 8pm at the Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami.
Parking and the lines to enter the rally venue were set to open at 8am with doors to the stadium opening up at 2pm and guest speakers beginning to appear on stage at about 6pm, CBS News notes.
Mr Trump has a massive lead over his competitors in the Republican primary, with Mr Trump having 56.5 per cent support in the average of national GOP primary polls as of 7 November put together by FiveThirtyEight.
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...and what have they said about the war in Ukraine?
14:00 , Oliver O'Connell
As President Joe Biden likes to remind anyone who’ll listen, “This is not your grandfather’s Republican Party”.
One of the issues where that’s becoming more evident by the day is Ukraine.
John McCain, the late Arizona Senator and 2008 GOP presidential candidate, sounded the alarm about Russia for years, making him one of President Vladimir Putin’s “greatest antagonists,” the Arizona Republic noted in February 2022, days after the Russian invasion began.
During the last year of his presidency in 2008, George W Bush said he “strongly supported” eventual Nato membership for Ukraine and Georgia. Last year, in a viral gaffe, he mistakenly said Iraq when he meant to call the war in Ukraine “unjustified and brutal”.
His younger brother, Jeb Bush, a former Florida Governor, went to Europe in 2015 shortly before announcing his presidential campaign.
In a speech in Berlin about a year after Russia’s annexation of Crimea and support of separatists in eastern Ukraine, he said: “Russia must respect the sovereignty of all of its neighbours. And who can doubt that Russia will do what it pleases if aggression goes unanswered?”
Mr Bush was quickly bullied out of the 2016 primary by the man who would come to embody the modern Republican Party – reality TV star and real estate mogul Donald Trump.
Support for Ukraine is dividing the GOP field, with several saying the US should continue to support the war effort, while a number of others are following Mr Trump’s lead towards isolationism.
Where do the GOP candidates stand on the Israel-Hamas conflict?
13:20 , Oliver O'Connell
The third GOP debate is set to take place on Wednesday, 8 November in Miami and the stakes have been raised for qualifying candidates as they prepare to tackle major world issues like the recent Israel-Hamas conflict.
Since the war began in October, there have been debates regarding how the US should support Israel as an ally while airstrikes and other offensives disrupt millions of innocent Palestinians.
This time around, candidates will have more time to give thoughtful answers because there are few participants due to the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) stricter criteria.
So far, Florida governor Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and ex-New Jersey governor Chris Christie have all met the new criteria.
Former president Donald Trump has technically qualified however he refuses to sign a pledge supporting the eventual RNC candidate and opted out of participating in the debates.
Ahead of the next debate, here’s what the qualifying candidates have said about the Israel-Hamas conflict.
What the GOP debate candidates have said about the Israel-Hamas conflict
The Independent Debate: Should Trump abandon his 2024 run for president?
12:20 , Oliver O'Connell
As Mr Trump’s legal battles grow more complex, many are wondering whether he will win the nomination and campaign for the election as a convicted criminal.
We want to know if you think the time is up for Trump. With the accusations surrounding the former president is it time he threw in the towel and sought a desk job away from the limelight and politics?
Or do you believe there’s still merit in bringing Mr Trump back to the White House?
Here’s how to have your say:
Tell us if Donald Trump should abandon his 2024 run for president
‘Walmart Melania’: Casey DeSantis gushes about her nickname
11:20 , Oliver O'Connell
Florida Gov Ron DeSantis’ wife Casey DeSantis says she “loves” her nickname “Walmart Melania,” explaining that she appreciates being likened to the former first lady because she’s “gorgeous,” while the women’s husbands, Mr DeSantis and former President Trump, compete for the 2024 GOP nomination.
“You know it’s funny, these hits from the media. Some of them are so funny they are just laughable,” Ms DeSantis said to a crowd at the Florida Republican Party’s “Freedom Summit” in Kissimmee.
She recalled when her friend called to tell her the media was “hitting” her. Ms DeSantis told the crowd, “They’re ‘hitting’ me? Like what did I do? I’m just standing up for parents’ rights and the innocence of our children, those sorts of things, but they’re hitting me?”
That’s when her friend let her in on the press’s nickname for Florida’s First Lady: “Walmart Melania.”
Kelly Rissman has the story.
Casey DeSantis gushes about her ‘Walmart Melania’ nickname
10:20 , Oliver O'Connell
Who qualified for the third Republican primary debate – and who didn’t
To counter the Maga movement, conservative lawyers are launching a new group
09:20 , Oliver O'Connell
A group of preeminent conservative lawyers who opposed former president Donald Trump’s efforts to manipulate the legal system are launching a new, long-term project aimed at fostering respect for the US constitution and the rule of law in the legal profession.
The group, which initially began operating in 2018 under the name Checks and Balances, includes preeminent conservative legal figures such as J Michael Luttig, the former Fourth Circuit judge who was shortlisted as a Supreme Court pick during the George W Bush administration, and George Conway, who was former president Donald Trump’s pick to run the Justice Department civil division before he became a prominent critic of the ex-president.
Unlike other groups formed by anti-Trump conservatives during Mr Trump’s presidency, the Checks and Balances group has been a bit of a shoestring operation, until now operating with a small budget raised from its’ members.
But a source familiar with the group’s plans told The Independent that a decision was made by the group’s board to seek outside funding for the purposes of a major relaunch and rebranding operation as the “Society for the Rule of Law,” which has now acquired the proper licenses to operate as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with an affiliated 501(c)(4) “social welfare” organisation that can undertake some political work. The society’s roll-out will include a “Rule of Law summit” taking place on Wednesday evening in Washington.
Who did NBC choose to moderate the debate?
07:20 , Oliver O'Connell
The third Republican primary debate will be moderated by two of the biggest names on NBC News and a conservative radio host with a past in the Reagan administration.
The next showdown is set to take place on 8 November at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami.
Here’s what you need to know about the ringmasters to this latest political circus:
Who are the moderators for the third Republican debate?
What question about abortion is throwing GOP candidates off balance?
05:20 , Oliver O'Connell
The 2024 Republican candidates for president have an abortion problem.
At every campaign stop, town hall, debate and interview the elephant in the room manages to creep its way into the dialogue – how should a potential president approach the legality of abortion at the federal level, if at all?
For decades, the ideal GOP candidate would state their pro-life stance and disagree with the landmark Supreme Court case Roe v Wade to earn a gold star and potential endorsements.
But since the fall of Roe last year, the issue of abortion has become increasingly complicated and voters have made it clear they’re looking for a candidate who can take a nuanced approach to the subject.
Across the board, polling shows that most Americans believe abortion should be legal in most or all cases in the first trimester, regardless of party lines. Simultaneously, the same majority of voters also believe abortions should be illegal in the third trimester.
Yet, when candidates are confronted with the issue, many display an obvious struggle to remain loyal to the Republican party’s long-held belief while extending a compromising hand to the rest of the country.
Republican candidates walking the abortion line can’t dodge this one question
Learning from Trump’s legal woes, the Republican candidates are condemning Jan 6 – with one exception...
03:20 , Oliver O'Connell
All but one of the Republican candidates appeared to have learned from former President Donald Trump’s deepening legal woes as they appeared for the first Republican primary debate in Milwaukee.
Former Vice President and 2024 candidate Mike Pence stood firmly behind his decision to certify President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory despite mounting pressure from Mr Trump and his supporters, which included violent threats to his life.
Mr Pence was praised by the candidates next to him on the debate stage, apart from entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who came out swinging with conspiracy theories making the rounds on rightwing social media on a variety of topics.
Gustaf Kilander reports:
Republican candidates are condemning Jan 6 – aside from Vivek Ramaswamy
02:58 , Oliver O'Connell
What have Republican presidential hopefuls said about the war in Ukraine?
01:20 , Oliver O'Connell
As President Joe Biden likes to remind anyone who’ll listen, “This is not your grandfather’s Republican Party”.
One of the issues where that’s becoming more evident by the day is Ukraine.
John McCain, the late Arizona Senator and 2008 GOP presidential candidate, sounded the alarm about Russia for years, making him one of President Vladimir Putin’s “greatest antagonists,” the Arizona Republic noted in February 2022, days after the Russian invasion began.
During the last year of his presidency in 2008, George W Bush said he “strongly supported” eventual Nato membership for Ukraine and Georgia. Last year, in a viral gaffe, he mistakenly said Iraq when he meant to call the war in Ukraine “unjustified and brutal”.
His younger brother, Jeb Bush, a former Florida Governor, went to Europe in 2015 shortly before announcing his presidential campaign.
In a speech in Berlin about a year after Russia’s annexation of Crimea and support of separatists in eastern Ukraine, he said: “Russia must respect the sovereignty of all of its neighbours. And who can doubt that Russia will do what it pleases if aggression goes unanswered?”
Mr Bush was quickly bullied out of the 2016 primary by the man who would come to embody the modern Republican Party – reality TV star and real estate mogul Donald Trump.
Support for Ukraine is dividing the GOP field, with several saying the US should continue to support the war effort, while a number of others are following Mr Trump’s lead towards isolationism.
Where do the candidates stand on abortion right?
Tuesday 7 November 2023 23:20 , Oliver O'Connell
The issue of abortion rights in the United States is staring the 2024 GOP presidential candidates in their eyes as they prepare to kick their campaigns into high gear.
Since the Supreme Court overturned the landmark case Roe v Wade (1973) last summer, abortion has become a top concern for many voters.
Though the anti-abortion stance has long been associated with the Republican Party, approximately 61 per cent of adults in the US believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, according to Pew Research Center – that statistic includes Republican and Democratic voters.
As Americans look toward their next Republican presidential nominee, no doubt many will be considering where the candidate stands on abortion when determining who they support.
Here is what each GOP presidential candidate has said on the issue.
Where the GOP presidential candidates stand on abortion rights
Meet the candidates running for president in 2024
Tuesday 7 November 2023 22:20 , Oliver O'Connell
With less than two years remaining until US voters will decide who will serve as president of the United States from January 2025 to January 2029, former Republican government officials are starting to jockey for position in the coming fight for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, while at least two Democrats challenge President Joe Biden in a Democratic primary.
As the campaign takes shape, here are the names you need to know.
2024 presidential candidates: Who are the candidates?
Welcome to our Republican debate live blog
Tuesday 7 November 2023 22:11 , Oliver O'Connell
Welcome to The Independent’s live blog of the third Republican primary debate of the 2024 election season.
We’ll be counting down to the main event tomorrow night furnishing you with all the background information you need to know before the candidates take to the stage in Miami.
