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Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie discusses his debate performance with CNN and explains why he refuses to stop attacking former President Donald Trump.

Former President Donald Trump is expected to turn himself in Thursday in Fulton County, Georgia, igniting a new chapter in ongoing legal proceedings. Trump's surrender comes as nine of his co-defendants have turned themselves in this week, including his former lawyer Rudy Giuliani. CBS News' Nikole Killion reports from Georgia.

Former President Donald Trump has replaced his top Georgia lawyer ahead of his surrender Thursday evening, sources tell CNN.

The Republican presidential debate Wednesday evening was filled with memorable moments and lines as candidates clashed on stage for the first time of the 2024 election cycle. The debate featured tense back-and-forths between candidates with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie trading blows.  GOP DEBATE: REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES ANSWER QUESTIONS ON ABORTION, CLIMATE CHANGE, THE ECONOMY AND MORE | LIVE UPDATES Here are five of memorable moments from the debate. During his answer to the first question, DeSantis argued the nation is in "decline" and suggested it is problematic that Americans are struggling to make ends meet while President Biden's son Hunter is selling his artwork for hundreds of thousands of dollars. "Our country is in decline. The decline is not inevitable. It's a choice," DeSantis remarked. "We need to send Joe Biden back to his basement and reverse American decline. And it starts with understanding we must reverse Bidenomics so that middle-class families have a chance to succeed again." "We cannot succeed as a country if you are working hard and you can't afford groceries, a car or a new home, while Hunter Biden can make hundreds of thousands of dollars on lousy paintings," he added. "That is wrong." Ramaswamy faced fire from several of his fellow candidates during the night.  Among the attacks he faced, Ramaswamy was criticized by Pence for lacking key experience needed to be president. Pence made the comments while touting his own accomplishments as vice president during the Trump administration. VIVEK RAMASWAMY ATTACKED FROM ALL SIDES IN FIRST GOP DEBATE: 'AMATEUR' "Now is not the time for on-the-job training," Pence said. "We don't need to bring in a rookie. We don't need to bring in people without experience."  Ramaswamy fired back, saying Pence was stating a "memorized, pre-prepared slogan." And Ramaswamy was also slammed by Christie, who compared him to former President Barack Obama. "No, hold on, hold on. Enough," Christie said. "I've had enough already tonight of a guy who sounds like Chat GPT." "He stands up here, and the last person in one of these debates, Bret, who stood in the middle of the stage and said, 'What's a skinny guy with an odd last name doing up here' was Barack Obama," Christie continued. "And I'm afraid we're dealing with the same type of amateur tendencies tonight." Ramaswamy then referenced Christie's greeting of Obama during Hurricane Sandy. PUNDITS SOUND OFF ON WHO STEPPED UP — AND WHO FLOPPED — AT FIRST GOP DEBATE Haley made waves during the portion of the debate about abortion policy. The former United Nations ambassador and South Carolina governor said Republicans should strive for "consensus" on the issue, earning rebukes from other candidates. "[Lawmakers] need to be honest with the American people and say it will take 60 Senate votes, it will take a majority of the House," Haley said. "So, in order to do that, let’s find consensus."  "Can't we all agree that we should ban late-term abortions? Can’t we all agree that we should encourage adoptions? Can’t we all agree that doctors and nurses who don’t believe in abortion shouldn't have to perform them? Can't we all agree that contraception should be available? And can’t we all agree that we are not going to put a woman in jail or give her the death penalty if she gets an abortion?" Haley added that, on abortion, Republicans should "humanize the situation and stop demonizing the situation." However, Pence ripped her remarks, arguing "consensus is the opposite of leadership" and pledging to be a pro-life president.  "When the Supreme Court returned this question to the American people, they didn’t just send it to the states only – it is not a states-only issue," Pence said. "It is a moral issue." CHRIS CHRISTIE LIKENS RAMASWAMY TO BARACK OBAMA: ‘AMATEUR TENDENCIES’ Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson distinguished himself as the only candidate on stage Wednesday to definitively say he couldn't commit to supporting Trump if he were to win the Republican nomination. Hutchinson said Trump was "morally disqualified from being president again as a result of what happened on Jan. 6." "More people are understanding the importance of that, including conservative legal scholars, who say he may be disqualified under the 14th Amendment from being president again as a result of the insurrection," Hutchinson commented. "This is something that could disqualify him under our rules and under the Constitution." "So, obviously, I’m not going to support somebody who’s been convicted of a serious felony or who has been disqualified under our Constitution and that’s consistent with RNC rules – and I hope everybody would agree." Finally, during the debate, Ramaswamy argued that the "climate change agenda" is a "hoax," earning rebuke from those joining him on the stage and Biden, who stated, "Climate change is real, by the way," in a social media post shortly after. "I’m the only candidate on stage who isn’t bought and paid for, so I can say this," Ramaswamy said. "The climate change agenda is a hoax." "The reality is more people are dying of bad climate change policies than they are of actual climate change." The debate crowd appeared to respond to the comments with jeers while other candidates pushed back and argued for policies that would cut emissions while bolstering domestic energy production.

The Republican candidates may have sparred at the first debate of the 2024 presidential campaign, but most agreed on a color.

With the exception of the former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, every Republican in Milwaukee for the first debate of the 2024 presidential campaign wore a red necktie.

See how candidates responded to a climate change question that quickly turned personal at the first republican primary debate hosted by Fox News.

The day before former President Donald Trump announced he would not participate in the 2024 Republican presidential primary debate, GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia campaigned at the Iowa State Fair on Trump's behalf.

CNN's Paula Reid reports that Rudy Giuliani arrived in Atlanta to be arrested on a private plane despite mounting legal debt. Giuliani said he is going to plead not guilty to 13 charges in Georgia.

MILWAUKEE—Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy said the United States is in the middle of a "national identity crisis," telling Fox News Digital that Americans have a "real choice" in the GOP presidential primary – vote for "incremental reform from traditional Republicans" or "something of a revolution," telling Fox News Digital that he stands "on the side of revolution." In an interview with Fox News Digital on the sidelines of the first Republican presidential primary debate, Ramaswamy said the United States is turning into "something that is foreign to the Founding Fathers' vision in 1776." "I do think the real choice we face in this primary is, do you want incremental reform from traditional Republicans? Or do you want something of a revolution?" he said. "I stand on the side of revolution, and I don’t apologize for that – that makes some other people nervous – but that’s the fact of the matter of who I am and what I stand for in this race." ALL EYES ON THE GOP PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DEBATE! SIGN UP NOW TO STREAM LIVE He added: "And I have a feeling that’s what the people in this country are actually going to choose." Ramaswamy, a 38-year-old billionaire, is a first-generation American, husband and a father of two little boys. "I am the embodiment of the American dream, and I say that with a sense of gratitude and a sense of duty," he said. "I think we have a duty to create that American dream for my two sons and their generation and I have no confidence that’s automatically going to happen." Ramaswamy told Fox News Digital that he believes the greatest threat to the United States right now is "our deep loss of national self-confidence." "I think we’re in the middle of a national identity crisis where people can’t even answer the question of what it means to be an American and that loss of national identity is, I think, the deepest threat we face," he said. "That might sound like an unconventional answer to some people because they talk about the economy, foreign policy – I think those are big challenges as well, but they are downstream of our loss of self-confidence." He added: "If you know who you are, you can stand up with spine on the global stage. If you know who you are, you can take risks and succeed through American capitalism as I did and so many others have living the American dream – that’s how you grow an economy."  OPINION: VIVEK RAMASWAMY COULD SURPRISE EVERYONE AT FIRST REPUBLICAN DEBATE But Ramaswamy said that "all starts with answering the question of who we really are as Americans." "Answer that with conviction – the rest becomes that much easier," he said. Ramaswamy will stand in the second place spot on the debate stage Wednesday night, alongside Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who will stand in the center. To prepare, Ramaswamy said he will spend the day with his family. But leading up to the debate, he told Fox News Digital, he has been traveling and meeting with voters. "It is a great way to prepare – especially if you take questions from voters," he said. "Those are harder questions than I often get from the media, so that has been the best form of debate prep." DON'T MISS: SIGN UP AND WATCH THE FIRST REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DEBATE ON FOXNEWS.COM. He added: "We feel we’re ready, and tomorrow is just the first of many to come." Ramaswamy said he is the only candidate on the stage who has not been in a debate. "For me, it is going to be a bit of a warmup," he said, pointing to other primary debates scheduled in the coming months. "Over the course of the fall, I’m really confident I’ll get to introduce myself and let the people of this country know who I am and what I stand for." Fox News Channel is partnering with the Young America's Foundation to host the first GOP presidential primary debate on Aug. 23 in Milwaukee. The debate begins at 9 p.m. Eastern and will also be live-streamed by social media sponsor Rumble.

Democratic Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock bypassed outside income limits last year by using a "fabricated" loophole, according to a report. Warnock's financial disclosure shows he received $154,895 in compensation from Atlanta's historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in 2022, while outside income for senators is limited to around $30,000.  However, Warnock exceeded the limit by claiming that $125,000 of his pay from the church was "deferred compensation for services before January 20, 2021," the Washington Free Beacon reported. DON'T MISS: SIGN UP AND WATCH THE FIRST REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DEBATE ON FOXNEWS.COM. "If it was inaccurately reported on his filing and the money was actually earned after he became a senator, then the outside earned income limit would apply," Kendra Arnold, executive director of the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust, told the Free Beacon.  "In that case the legal issue that would arise (in addition to exceeding the outside income limit) is filing inaccurate or false information on a personal financial disclosure, i.e. wrongly saying it was deferred compensation when it wasn't," Arnold said. CORI BUSH POCKETED THOUSANDS TO TEACH GRADUATE-LEVEL REPARATIONS COURSE AT GEORGE MASON, DISCLOSURES SHOW Warnock's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Ebenezer Baptist Church also did not respond to an inquiry on its financial setup with Warnock and the "deferred compensation." Warnock began serving as senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in 2005 and has continued in the role part-time. His arrangement with the church and surrounding controversies became a centerpiece of Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker's failed campaign against Warnock last year. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger also set his sights on a foundation tied to Warnock's church. Last fall, Raffensperger probed the Ebenezer Building Foundation – operated by the Ebenezer Baptist Church – on its nonprofit status after it failed to register as a charitable organization in the state. HERSCHEL WALKER'S CURIOUS CASE OF $595K IN PRIVATE JETS AND A DONOR-OWNED CAR WASH The Ebenezer Building Foundation owns a low-income housing unit that pursued evicting residents over past-due rent as low as $25.88, the Free Beacon reported.  Warnock, meanwhile, had received a staggering $7,417 monthly housing allowance from the church.

National Democrats are plastering Milwaukee with positive messages today about President Biden while also attacking the 2024 Republican presidential hopefuls just hours before their first primary debate. The Wisconsin city is playing host to the event, moderated by Fox News’ Bret Baier and Martha McCallum, where eight GOP candidates will take the stage at 9 p.m. ET. Before they go on, the Democratic National Committee coordinated with Biden’s re-election campaign to roll out several billboards across the city and its highways.  The DNC is also having an airplane circle the area overhead from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. CT.  ALL EYES ON THE GOP PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DEBATE! SIGN UP NOW TO STREAM LIVE "As 2024 Republican presidential candidates prepare for the first Republican primary debate tonight, the DNC is rolling out a series of billboards and a plane across Milwaukee hammering the most extreme slate of candidates in history," the DNC said on Wednesday morning. "A plane will fly around Milwaukee on Wednesday with a banner reading: ‘GOP 2024: A Race for the Extreme MAGA Base.’ A mobile billboard will also circle the debate venue on Wednesday, introducing the MAGA field with details about each of the candidates’ extreme and out-of-touch agendas." DESANTIS, SCOTT, HALEY, PENCE, RAMASWAMY, OTHERS AIM FOR ‘VIRAL BREAKTHROUGH’ AT FIRST DEBATE The DNC’s billboards will feature a photo of Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, touting success on a "record number of new jobs," "lowering costs," "updating our nation’s roads and bridges" and "protecting a woman’s right to choose nationwide." The Biden-Harris 2024 campaign’s billboards throughout the city will feature the "Dark Brandon" meme depicting the president’s eyes shining bright red. Calling Biden "Brandon" began as a joke in Republican circles, but the president’s allies have since seized on it as their own online meme. DESANTIS VOWS TO PUSH BACK IF HE COMES UNDER ATTACK AT FIRST GOP PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE The DNC’s mobile billboard will shuffle slides of all eight candidates due on stage Wednesday night with the heading "2024 MAGA Cheat Sheet," and outlines what Democrats say are extreme positions, particularly on abortion. It comes days after Biden’s campaign announced it would shell out $25 million on a 16-week ad campaign aimed at voters in swing states, the third such substantial purchase by the president’s re-election team.

Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee criticized Biden's reported sale of approximately $260 million worth of unused border wall materials, urging the immediate suspension of ongoing auctions in a letter to the secretary of Defense on Tuesday.  "We are deeply disappointed to learn that rather than using construction materials that were purchased to secure the southwest border for that purpose, the Department of Defense has begun auctioning these materials off for other purposes," the letter stated.  The letter was signed by every Republican member on the Armed Services Committee, including Sens. Eric Schmitt of Missouri, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Joni Ernst of Iowa, and Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the committee's ranking member. Lawmakers also want the Department of Defense Inspector General to investigate Melissa Dalton, assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and hemispheric affairs, for what they say is her "failure to provide Congress accurate and timely information about the Department's plans regarding the use of these border wall construction materials." FIRST REPUBLICAN PRIMARY DEBATE ON FOX NEWS SETS STAGE IN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN Multiple inquiries were sent to Dalton about the use of the border wall material from members and staff of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the letter stated.  Lawmakers also stated they would not consent to a confirmation hearing for the nominee for undersecretary of defense for policy until their concerns are addressed.  "President Biden’s attempt to subvert Congress and sell unused border wall materials is an abuse of taxpayer dollars," Ernst posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Tuesday. "I’m conducting critical oversight to halt his auctions." By Sept. 5, lawmakers want the White House to give an account of how much the government originally paid for the materials, how much they were sold for, who bought them, and what they're being used for.  GOP leaders also want to know how much money the department spent to keep the materials in storage, where they were stored, and who was paid for storing them. "The FINISH IT Act requires the Department to use these construction materials to secure the southwest border as originally intended, or to transfer them to border states for that purpose," according to the letter.  BIDEN QUIETLY AUCTIONS OFF BORDER WALL PARTS TO STUNT REPUBLICAN EFFORT TO RESTART CONSTRUCTION: REPORT Introduced in May and led by Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Wicker, and Ernst, the FINISH Act proposes that the federal government utilizes border wall panels previously acquired but left unused. It also proposes extending the U.S.-Mexico border wall using these panels or handing them over to states like Texas for their own border wall construction projects. "During a border crisis, the White House should be working to enhance border security, not undermine it through such outrageous, behind-the-scenes maneuvering," Wicker said on X. "My FINISH It Act should be implemented without further delay." BIDEN'S 'RIDICULOUS' PLAN TO SELL UNUSED BORDER WALL COSTS MONEY, LIVES AS DRUGS POUR IN: BORDER TOWN OFFICIAL Reports of Biden quietly auctioning off border wall materials comes as the sale of "square structural tubes" was captured in a storage yard in Arizona. The tubes were made available for auction on GovPlanet, an online auction platform operated by the publicly traded Canadian company Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, earlier this month. According to the New York Post, GovPlanet, which specializes in military surplus, has sold 81 lots of 28-foot-tall beams for about $2 million. A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson said in an email to Fox News Digital on Sunday that the "U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is disposing of the excess border wall materials in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation." "USACE has already transferred approximately $154 million worth of the roughly $260 million of bollard panels and other materials in accordance with standard excess property disposition procedures. USACE stands ready to implement a decision regarding disposition of the remaining materials." Fox News' Daniel Wallace contributed to this report.

"This is a tremendous responsibility that I approach with humility and resolve," Hudson said.

X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, suspended the account for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' main supporting PAC on Wednesday. The Never Back Down PAC's account, @nvrbackdown24, was suspended early Wednesday morning, according to the organization's strategic communications director Matt Wolking. X did not immediately respond to a request for clarification from Fox News Digital, though Wolking speculated that pro-Trump accounts "engaged in mass reporting" against the account. "X says it ‘seems like our automated systems incorrectly picked it up as "spam."' We have asked X to tell us who exactly reported @NvrBackDown24 as spam," Wolking wrote from his personal account. ALL EYES ON THE GOP PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DEBATE! SIGN UP NOW TO STREAM LIVE Wolking included screenshots of several X accounts allied with former Prsisdent Donald Trump that were celebrating the account's suspension. "Given their celebration, we have asked @X @elonmusk to disclose whether these Trump-backed accounts and their affiliated bot network have recently engaged in mass reporting against the @NvrBackDown24 account in order to manipulate X's rules," he wrote. DESANTIS, RAMASWAMY TO STAND CENTER STAGE AT FIRST GOP PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE The suspension comes just hours before the first GOP 2024 presidential primary debate is set to begin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As of late morning, the account appears to have been reinstated, though its follower count remains in the triple digits, far lower than prior to the suspension. X owner Elon Musk was tagged in multiple posts about the pro-DeSantis PAC's suspension, but he did not respond on the platform. DESANTIS, SCOTT, HALEY, PENCE, RAMASWAMY, OTHERS AIM FOR ‘VIRAL BREAKTHROUGH’ AT FIRST DEBATE Christina Pushaw, rapid response director for DeSantis' campaign, weighed in from her own account on speculation that pro-Trump accounts were responsible for the suspension. "BEYOND PARODY The same trolls who cry nonstop when they're censored on social media... are cheering for their opponents to be censored on social media," she wrote. "This is a well-worn Left Liberal tactic: When you can't defeat your opponents in a debate, you hide in the basement and try to silence your opponents. If it's true that Republicans are doing this now, shame on them," she added. Never Back Down confirmed it regained access to its account, but said it was asking Musk and X to offer more details about the cause of the suspension.

Republican presidential candidates will be taking the stage tonight in Milwaukee for the 2024 cycle's first primary debate. Follow here for the latest live news updates and analysis.

The North Dakota governor was taken to an emergency room Tuesday in Milwaukee, where the first Republican primary debate is taking place Wednesday night.

First 2024 debate will be held in a racially diverse Democratic stronghold and a battleground that could decide who wins The Republican party faces an electability test on Wednesday when candidates including election deniers, climate deniers and anti-abortion extremists take the debate stage in a city that rebukes them and a state they cannot afford to lose. The first presidential primary debate will be held in Milwaukee, a racially diverse Democratic stronghold in Wisconsin, a battleground that could decide who wins the White House in 2024. Continue reading...

The first debate among Republican contenders for the GOP nomination for president could be make-or-break for many 2024 hopefuls. But each would-be nominee will face different challenges heading into the showdown. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says he'll be ready on Wednesday night at the first Republican presidential nomination debate.  "We’ll be ready to do what we need to do to deliver our message, but we absolutely expect that, and we’ll be ready for it," DeSantis said in Fox News Digital interview this past weekend. Asked whether his debate strategy includes punching back at rivals on the stage, DeSantis answered, "Yes, that means defending ourselves, but more importantly, showing why we are the leader to get this country turned around." ALL EYES ON THE GOP PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DEBATE! SIGN UP NOW TO STREAM LIVE DeSantis was interviewed on Saturday as he campaigned in the crucial early voting state of New Hampshire. But he's also been fitting in time for debate preparation sessions steered by veteran GOP strategist and debate coach Brett O'Donnell. The conservative governor and culture wars crusader is in second place in most 2024 GOP primary polling, trailing former President Donald Trump – who has expanded his commanding lead in the polls over the past six months. But DeSantis is ahead of the rest of the large field of contenders in most polling. With Trump declining to take the debate stage, DeSantis is likely to come under attack at the showdown. DESANTIS, RAWASWAMY TO STAND CENTER STAGE AT FIRST GOP DEBATE The Florida governor is trying to change the narrative after a series of setbacks in the past two months, which triggered weeks of negative stories that spotlighted his campaign’s overspending, staff layoffs, change of leadership and other issues. "I think for Ron DeSantis, this is an opportunity to help reset his campaign and reestablish himself as the clear No. 2," longtime Republican strategist Jim Merrill, a veteran of numerous GOP presidential campaigns, told Fox News. The Florida governor is far from the only contender on the stage this week at the Fox News-hosted debate in Milwaukee who's prepping for the crucial prime-time showdown. And he's far from the only candidate with plenty on the line. THIS POPULAR GOP GOVERNOR AND DEBATE VETERAN REVEALS THE KEY FOR CANDIDATES AT WEDNESDAY'S SHOWDOWN Former Vice President Mike Pence, a veteran of two vice presidential general election debates, has been preparing for the first showdown by taking part in mock debates. An adviser who is assisting with those and who asked to remain anonymous in order to speak more freely said Pence "will be very well-prepared." Pence, by upholding his constitutional duties and overseeing congressional certification of President Biden's 2020 Electoral College victory over Trump on Jan. 6, 2021, amid the assault on the U.S. Capitol, has endured the wrath of the former president and plenty of Trump’s most devout loyalists and supporters. But the debate, which is expected to draw millions of TV and online viewers, offers Pence a golden opportunity to paint contrasts with the rest of field as he spotlights his conservative stance on numerous key issues, including abortion. CHECK OUT INITIAL FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS IN 2024 GOP PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION RACE "We’re ready," Pence senior adviser Marc Short said in a statement. "We’ve been waiting for this for a while." A source in South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott's political orbit told Fox News that "we’ve brought people in who have deep experience with past campaigns. Tim has been preparing." Scott, a rising GOP star and the only Black Republican in the Senate, has made his uplifting conservative message the centerpiece of his campaign as he bids for the White House. "Tim Scott will share his positive, conservative message on the debate stage in Milwaukee," Scott's campaign told Fox News. "This debate is another opportunity to connect with millions of voters across the country and show why Tim has faith in America and why he is the strongest candidate to beat Joe Biden." WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN IN LATEST FOX NEWS 2024 GOP PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION POLL Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie – who ran for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination – will be the only candidate on the stage with presidential primary debate experience. "I'm incredibly relaxed. I've been there before," Christie told reporters this past weekend. "I'll be the only one on that stage that's ever done it before. So, hell, if I'm nervous, they should all be petrified." Christie, a vocal Trump critic, is expected to take aim at the former president. During a recent interview, Christie said, "I've got a very simple debate strategy. I'll listen to the questions, answer them directly and honestly." He also said that if a rival candidate says something that he believes "is dishonest," he'll "call them out on it." HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING FROM THE 2024 CAMPAIGN Former U.N. ambassador and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has been a staple on the campaign trail in the crucial early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire as well as her home state of South Carolina since launching her presidential campaign in February. She says that experience has helped her prepare for the debate. "We have done dozens of town halls in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. We let them ask every question. That’s the best debate prep you can possibly get. So, we’re going to go up on that stage and have a good time," Haley said in a recent Fox News Digital interview. But sources in Haley's political world tell Fox News that if she comes under attack at the debate, she'll punch back, but it will be policy oriented. And don't be surprised if Haley spotlights the vast divide on foreign policy between herself and one of her rivals, multimillionaire biotech entrepreneur and political commentator Vivek Ramaswamy.  Campaign spokesperson Ken Farnaso told Fox News that "Nikki Haley will always stand up for what she believes in." Ramaswamy – a first time candidate and culture wars crusader – is the biggest surprise in the GOP nomination race so far this cycle. He's seen his support surge and is rivaling DeSantis for second place in some polls. He'll stand center stage with the Florida governor at the debate. In a Fox News Digital interview last week, Ramaswamy said that "one of the things I’m focused on is not being overly prepared." Ramaswamy’s campaign told Fox News that the candidate has been cramming in a lot of foreign policy briefings and spars with staff during flights to prepare himself for the initial showdown. But they added that Ramaswamy was not partaking in any mock debates. And on Monday, he said he was getting ready for the debate by playing tennis – shirtless – for a couple of hours. For former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who are anything but household names outside their home states, the debate offers an opportunity. "This is an opportunity for many of the candidates to make a first impression on the national stage. It also allows candidates who are far back in the pack to have a breakout moment," longtime Republican strategist and communicator Ryan Willams told Fox News. Merrill said the candidates are hoping to "create viral breakthrough moments. A moment of strength that gets beyond a 45-second answer about tax policy or farm policy. This is about something that really distinguishes them, a 15-20 second soundbite that grabs voters’ attention and stands out from the clutter." He added that "in large part, it’s tied to figuring out ways to distinguish themselves on that and also being ready and prepping themselves with people playing the other candidates to make sure that as incoming flak comes at them, they can respond and parry accordingly. It’s really important to be strong up there, be declarative and decisive. They’re all sharpening those 15- and 20-second sound bites and making sure they sound and look commanding on that stage."

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN—When Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis takes the debate stage Wednesday night, he’ll remind voters of his "proven conservative record" and pitch his "vision to reverse America’s decline."  DeSantis, who will stand center stage at Wednesday night’s Fox News-hosted debate in Milwaukee, is the highest-polling candidate participating in the showdown. DESANTIS, RAMASWAMY TO STAND CENTER STAGE AT FIRST GOP PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE And his campaign is prepared for attacks from the Republican candidates standing alongside him. "Gov. DeSantis will be the number one target on the stage," DeSantis’ Deputy Campaign Manager David Polyansky told Fox News Digital. The Republican National Committee stated that "qualified candidates will be placed on stage according to polling, with the highest polling candidate in the center." In the center of the stage, alongside DeSantis, will stand biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. On either side of DeSantis and Ramaswamy will be former Vice President Mike Pence and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. ALL EYES ON THE GOP PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DEBATE! SIGN UP NOW TO STREAM LIVE Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina will stand in the number five and six positions, with former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum standing on the wings of the debate stage.  Polyansky added that DeSantis will "receive the most incoming from many, if not all, of the candidates on the stage—and off—because they recognize it is a two-person race." Former President Donald Trump is currently the leading the 2024 GOP presidential primary field but has chosen not to attend the debate Wednesday night, pointing to his large lead, with DeSantis standing in second place in most polls. DESANTIS, SCOTT, HALEY, PENCE, RAMASWAMY, OTHERS AIM FOR ‘VIRAL BREAKTHROUGH’ AT FIRST DEBATE But DeSantis will use Wednesday’s debate as an opportunity to share his vision for the future of America with the Republican electorate. "DeSantis in particular has a chance to explain to GOP voters why he deserves to be their nominee based on his proven conservative record and vision to reverse America’s decline," Polyansky told Fox News Digital. "And also why he feels that nobody is going to be handed this nomination." DESANTIS VOWS TO PUSH BACK IF HE COMES UNDER ATTACK AT FIRST GOP PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE "You are going to have to show up on the debate stage and make your pitch to Republican voters," he said. "Through all of the noise, this remains a two-person race." DeSantis, during an interview with Fox News Digital over the weekend, said his debate strategy includes "defending" himself, but "more importantly showing why we are the leader to get this country turned around." Fox News is hosting the first GOP presidential primary debate on Aug. 23 in Milwaukee. The debate begins at 9 p.m. ET. Rumble is the online live-streaming partner and Young America’s Foundation is also a partner in the first debate. Fox News' Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.

FIRST ON FOX: The Republican National Committee says it's going "all in" ahead of Wednesday's first GOP presidential nomination debate to encourage voters to turn in ballots early. The recently-launched "Bank Your Vote" campaign seeks to motivate pre-Election Day balloting among Republicans ahead of the 2024 presidential election. The RNC effort aims to educate GOP voters on absentee voting, ballot collection and early in-person voting.  The RNC ad blitz, shared first with Fox News Wednesday, includes a 30-second ad that will appear on the Rumble live stream of the debate, a Fox News-hosted showdown in Milwaukee. The spot includes RNC chair Ronna McDaniel and other prominent Republicans encouraging GOP voters to cast ballots early next year. ALL EYES ON THE GOP PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DEBATE! SIGN UP NOW TO STREAM LIVE "When Republicans vote early, we win," McDaniel emphasized in the ad. The RNC also spotlights that the ad includes a Bank Your Vote contest. "If you pledge to bank your vote at BankYourVote.com on Aug. 23, you will be entered to win a chance to attend a future Republican presidential primary debate," the national party committee notes. The RNC will also have a Bank Your Vote booth at the Convention Partner Fair in Milwaukee Wednesday. The RNC says people attending the debate, vendors and volunteers stopping by the booth can sign up to pledge to bank their vote. DESANTIS, SCOTT, HALEY, PENCE, RAMASWAMY, OTHERS AIM FOR ‘VIRAL BREAKTHROUGH’ AT FIRST DEBATE The committee also notes there will be absentee request forms for all 56 states and territories, with laws and fact sheets about each state and territory’s absentee rules. The RNC showcases that it's hosting over 400 debate watch parties in all 50 states, where people attending will be encouraged to sign up online and pledge to bank their vote early. "To ensure that Biden is a one-term president, that Republicans expand our majority in the House and that we take back the Senate, Republican voters from across the country need to bank their vote ahead of Election Day in 2024. The RNC will be leading the Bank Your Vote charge this cycle, and we’re proud to partner with so many Republican leaders from across the ecosystem to bank and protect Republican votes," McDaniel said in a statement. THIS POPULAR GOP GOVERNOR AND DEBATE VETERAN REVEALS THE KEY FOR THE CANDIDATES ON STAGE  Former President Donald Trump, who appears in the new RNC ad, released a video last month encouraging Republicans to vote early, backing the RNC's effort. For over 2½ years, Trump has repeatedly spotlighted unproven claims that massive fraud in early and absentee voting led to the 2020 presidential election being stolen. But since launching his 2024 presidential campaign last November, Trump has appeared to slowly embrace efforts to encourage Republicans to vote early in person or cast an early absentee ballot. During a recent Fox News town hall with Sean Hannity, Trump said he would encourage Republicans to vote early. But he also claimed people make "phony ballots" and charged "a lot of bad things happen to those ballots." Due in part to Trump's rhetoric, Democrats have enjoyed a sizable early voting advantage the past couple of years over Republicans. According to statistics compiled by the U.S. Election Project in November, 33.3% of early votes in the 2022 midterm elections came from registered Republicans in states that report such information. That was up from 30.5% during the 2020 presidential election. Democrats voted early at about the same rate — 40.6% in 2022 and 40.8% in 2020. Fox News' Brooke Singman contributed to this report

The presidential primary season's first GOP debate will be held in Milwaukee. Eight candidates will take the stage.

State Republican lawmakers who allegedly signed on as Trump’s false electors in 2020 face anger, prosecution and recall When the news broke in 2020 that 16 Republicans in Michigan had signed a certificate falsely claiming to be electors for Donald Trump, Rose Herweyer was dismayed to find a prominent local politician, Kent Vanderwood, listed among the signatories. “His willingness to sign a fake elector paper and try to send that in and negate Michigan’s actual vote speaks to his integrity,” Herweyer said of Vanderwood, who was then a member of the Wyoming, Michigan, city council. “How can I trust anything he does?” Continue reading...

Trump could put himself at risk in debate when responding to questions about his four criminal cases Donald Trump’s decision to spurn the Republican primary debate on Wednesday in favor of a pre-taped interview with Tucker Carlson solves the political question of how to inflict damage on the 2024 field, but it also eliminates concerns his remarks in the high-profile event could increase his legal exposure. The former president confirmed over the weekend that he would not attend the debate in Milwaukee, saying in a post on his Truth Social platform: “New CBS poll, just out, has me leading the field by ‘legendary’ numbers… I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES.” Continue reading...

Being No. 2 could be especially important next year, and Ramaswamy has been gaining on DeSantis.

Someone’s missing.

Oh, the games campaigns play with political merch. They may surprise you.