Just four candidates will take the stage Wednesday night in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for the fourth Republican primary debate - the fewest contenders so far. Hosted by NewsNation, this debate will feature Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Notably, former President Trump will once again skip the event, choosing instead to attend a private fundraiser in Florida.

Scheduled to air at 8 p.m. EST, the debate will be moderated by Elizabeth Vargas, Megyn Kelly, and Eliana Johnson. Viewers interested in tuning in can find information on how to watch NewsNation in their specific cable market or stream the debate.

Here are the key things to watch for during the Wednesday debate:

1. Haley's Momentum: Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has been steadily gaining momentum, positioning herself as the leading non-Trump candidate. With strong debate performances in her favor, she has secured a clear second place in New Hampshire and South Carolina. Haley aims to close the gap with DeSantis not only in Iowa but also on a national scale. She portrays herself as the strongest candidate to face President Biden in a general election, backed by polls that show her with a larger lead over the incumbent than both Trump and DeSantis. With a recent significant endorsement from Americans for Prosperity Action, Haley will attempt to make the case that she is the strongest candidate to challenge Trump for the nomination and prevent Biden from being reelected.

2. DeSantis' Stagnation: While Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has managed to halt the decline his campaign experienced in the polls throughout the summer, he has largely remained stagnant both nationwide and in key states for months. Recently, DeSantis engaged in a debate against California Governor Gavin Newsom, garnering praise from Republicans. With the Iowa caucuses just over a month away, DeSantis needs to capitalize on every opportunity to fend off Haley and narrow the gap with Trump. The Wednesday debate presents a prime opportunity for him, as there will be fewer candidates on stage and more speaking time. DeSantis has focused his efforts on Iowa, receiving crucial endorsements from Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats. However, time is running out for DeSantis to realistically challenge Trump in January if he fails to turn things around during the debate.

3. The Trump Factor: Despite former President Trump's commanding lead in the primary race, the debates have primarily focused on the other candidates. The main battle among the top-tier candidates on stage has revolved around clinching the second-place spot. While Trump remains the front-runner, criticisms over his absence from the debates have been the most common attack. Some candidates have also raised policy-related concerns, such as DeSantis questioning Trump's failure to make Mexico pay for a border wall and Haley criticizing his national debt and foreign policy positions. Whether Haley or DeSantis will risk alienating a significant part of the base by launching direct attacks on the former president remains to be seen.

4. Moments of Tension: The previous debates have witnessed several tense moments, with candidates taking shots at each other. The Wednesday debate is expected to be no different. Notably, there has been palpable animosity between Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy. Haley accused Ramaswamy of abandoning the country's allies in his opposition to additional aid to Ukraine, while Ramaswamy accused her of supporting Ukraine to please defense contractors. The most volatile moment thus far occurred when Ramaswamy brought up Haley's daughter's use of TikTok in response to her criticism of his campaign's use of the platform. Haley and DeSantis have also clashed over energy policies and fracking during previous debates. It remains to be seen if they will go after each other again to gain a clear advantage as the alternative candidate.

Despite the debates, polls continue to show Trump with over 50 percent support nationally, with leads of nearly 30 points in Iowa and New Hampshire. However, polling suggests potential opportunities for other candidates to narrow the gap in these states. As time is running out, candidates hope that the Wednesday debate will finally leave a dent in Trump's lead. While Haley has benefitted the most from post-debate boosts, it has only made her competitive for second place thus far.