Hours before Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis took the stage, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie announced he was dropping out of the race, a curveball with major implications.
A flurry of non-Republican National Committee-sanctioned debates announced this week by television networks marked the latest example of the national committee losing its grip on the presidential primary process.
The Republican National Committee revealed Friday it will allow candidates for the 2024 Republican nomination to participate in debates and forums that aren't sanctioned by the committee.