Candidates Address the Elephant in the Room: Trump

The top Republicans vying to be the leading alternative to Donald Trump are finally getting a chance to weigh in on his four indictments — sort of.

Nearly an hour into the GOP debate, Fox News Channel showed a live image of Atlanta's Fulton County jail, where the former president is set to surrender on charges on Thursday, drawing boos from the audience. The moderators said they'd spend a "brief moment about the elephant not in the room" and ask about the cases against Trump.

Those on stage were then asked to raise their hands if they would support Trump if he wins the GOP presidential nomination. Six of the candidates raised their hands, while former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie half-raised his hand and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson kept his hand down.

The candidates on stage were required to sign a pledge vowing to support the eventual nominee before joining Wednesday's debate.