Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley immediately emerged as the target for her Republican rivals during the fourth primary debate. Why it matters: Haley is battling Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over the second place spot in the Republican primary polls, and she fielded attacks from her rivals within minutes of the debate's opening.

Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Chris Christie, and Vivek Ramaswamy face off at the fourth Republican presidential nomination debate in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Donald Trump skipped out again

The former president still held a major presence over the debate stage, however, who holds a healthy lead in preliminary polling for the next GOP presidential nominee. Meanwhile, Haley and DeSantis wasted no time taking the battle for second place to the debate stage, while Christie and Ramaswamy fought to stay in the race.

The super PAC supporting Gov. Ron DeSantis's (R-FL) presidential campaign, Never Back Down, will highlight former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley's stance on the issue of transgender youth in a new video ad hours before the fourth Republican National Committee debate in Tuscaloosa,

Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Chris Christie and Vivek Ramaswamy meet in fourth GOP primary debate in Tuscaloosa, Ala. at the University of Alabama.

By Gram Slattery TUSCALOOSA, Alabama (Reuters) -Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley will face off at the fourth Republican presidential debate on Wednesday night in one of their last encounters before their party's first nominating contest in Iowa in less than six weeks.

The candidates are expected to make their pitch to GOP voters on America's economy, foreign policy and other debates facing the nation. They might even go head-to-head on a controversial college football snub.

Nikki Haley was targeted Wednesday from the opening moments of the fourth debate for Republican presidential hopefuls as time runs out for the shrinking field to shake up a race that's been dominated by former President Donald Trump.

The four Republican presidential candidates debating Wednesday night mostly targeted each other instead of Donald Trump. Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley took the brunt of the attacks as s