Megyn Kelly returns as moderator for the FOURTH Republican debate: Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie and Vivek Ramaswamy take the stage in bid to close the gap with Trump with less than six weeks until Iowa

Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy took the stage at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Wednesday evening.

Returning to the Alabama debate moderator role is former Fox News host Megyn Kelly, who had a number of clashes with Donald Trump when he ran for president in 2015.

The debate is expected to be the most tense yet, with the smallest number of candidates qualifying under the strictest thresholds, as tension mounts among those vying for the 2024 Republican nomination.

But none of the four on stage are likely to actually win the nomination, with former President Donald Trump still far ahead in polls and popularity.

Still, a new Morning Consult poll shows that nearly two-thirds of potential Republican primary voters plan to watch at least part of the debate.

Only 25 percent said they would not comment on the debate at all.

Donald Trump, who is up 50 points in some polls, is skipping the event again.

So far, the ex-president's no-shows haven't put a dent in his lead, even though more than 75 percent of Republican voters attach some importance to the debates.

Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy took the stage at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Wednesday evening

Moderators include former Fox News host and current SiriusXM host Megyn Kelly (center), NewsNation's Elizabeth Vargas (right) and Washington Free Beacon editor-in-chief Eliana Johnson (left)

On the day of the debate, Senator Katie Britt of Alabama voiced her support for the ex-president.

NewsNation will host the fourth debate on December 6 at the Frank Moody Music Building at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa for the first debate ever held in the deep-red state of Alabama.

Moderators include former Fox News anchor and current SiriusXM host Megyn Kelly, NewsNation's Elizabeth Vargas and Washington Free Beacon Editor-in-Chief Eliana Johnson.

To make it to the podium, the candidates faced their biggest uphill battle yet, with Governor Christie nearly losing.

The candidates had to gather 80,000 donors, each with at least 200 donors from 20 different states or territories.

Each candidate also had to receive 6 percent support in two different national polls. Alternatively, they could earn 6 percent in one national poll and 6 percent in two separate statewide polls in an early primary state — Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada or South Carolina.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who failed to qualify for the third and fourth debates, announced Monday he would suspend his campaign.

Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina dropped out just days after participating in the third debate in Miami, Florida, in early November.

Wednesday's debate took place at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa — it's the first debate of the 2024 primaries to be held on a college campus

Stand-ins take place behind the debate stages prior to Wednesday night's debate at the University of Alabama's Moody Music Hall

Between the second and third debates, former Vice President Mike Pence also ended his run.

Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson only qualified for the first debate but has not ended his candidacy.

Meanwhile, Dallas businessman and preacher Ryan Binkley hasn't taken the stage once, but he's still sticking to his bid.

Trump has far exceeded the qualifications to debate at any event but declined to appear.

The ex-president says the debates are below his level, given the huge lead he has in the polls over the rest of the field.

He also will not sign an RNC pledge to support the eventual 2024 Republican Party nominee, which candidates must agree to in order to take the stage.

Trump has spent all the debates so far organizing his own events.

Before the first debate, he sat down with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson for a wide-ranging interview that aired just five minutes before eight of his competitors took the stage in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

In September, for the second debate in Wisconsin, Trump engaged with auto workers pushing for better wages, hours and benefits, while seven others in Simi Valley, California debated at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

At the last rally in Miami, Florida, last month, Trump held a rally just 15 minutes away on the night of the debate.