Republican debate candidates asked about Trump but Haley faces most attacks

Florida governor Ron DeSantis, third from left, speaks as former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, left, former UN ambassador Nikki Haley and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, right, watch during a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by NewsNation at the Moody Music Hall at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa (Gerald Herbert/AP)

Four Republican presidential candidates were given several opportunities during a debate to criticise the absent Donald Trump but mostly targeted each other, with Nikki Haley taking the brunt of the attacks as she gets more interest from donors and voters.

With just over a month before the 2024 primary calendar begins, the debate in Alabama demonstrated how firm Mr Trump’s grip remains on the party.