Current:Home > ScamsDeSantis and Haley jockey for second without Trump and other takeaways from Iowa GOP debate-LoTradeCoin
DeSantis and Haley jockey for second without Trump and other takeaways from Iowa GOP debate
View Date:2024-12-23 15:11:09
There were only two Republicans on the presidential debate stage Wednesday, as former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis met for the highest-stake face off yet just five days before the nominating process formally starts with Iowa’s caucuses.
Haley and DeSantis’ spirited debate came in the shadow of a live town hall held by the man who is dominating the primary contest, Donald Trump. The former president, of course, has stayed away from all five debates, holding a rival town hall Wednesday on Fox News. The one Republican candidate whose entire campaign has been based around stopping Trump, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, suspended his campaign just hours before the debate.
Christie wasn’t scheduled to be on the stage anyway as the field was whittled down to the only two candidates who are battling for a very distant second to Trump.
Here are early takeaways from the event.
THE FIGHT FOR SECOND
Ever since debates began in August, Trump’s absence has created a surreal scene of politicians badly trailing in the polls talking about what they’ll do when they win the presidency. On Wednesday, at least, it was painfully clear that the remaining contenders in the Republican primary are fighting for second place.
The opening question was why each of the two candidates thought they were the best option for voters who didn’t want to support Trump. That set the stakes squarely about second place and the candidates snapped to it.
Haley opened the debate by touting a new website to track DeSantis’ “lies.”
DeSantis countered: “We don’t need another mealy mouthed politician who just tells you what she thinks you want to hear, just so she can get into office and do her donors’ bidding.”
The sharpest exchange came after Haley continued to needle DeSantis on how he ran his campaign, saying it showed he couldn’t be trusted to run the country if he could spend $150 million and have so much internal chaos and stagnant polling. When the Florida governor tried to interrupt her, Haley said: “I think I hit a nerve.”
DeSantis dismissed Haley’s criticism as “process stuff” that voters don’t care about and bragged about his conservative record in Florida while jabbing her for failing to pass school choice as governor.
It went on and on like that, with the two candidates constantly jabbing each other. They made swipes at Trump, but spent the overwhelming amount of time on the person standing at the podium next to them.
The political rationale is clear — Trump is 77 years old and faces four separate sets of criminal charges plus a bid to disqualify him from being president that is currently at the U.S. Supreme Court. Anything can happen, and if it does you’d rather be the runner-up than in third or lower. Plus, maybe Trump reaches down and picks his running mate from the top of the also-rans.
Trump’s campaign has already quipped that the debates are actually vice presidential debates and, during his Fox News town hall, suggested he already knew who his pick would be.
As has been the case, Wednesday’s debate didn’t seem likely to change the overall trajectory of the race, with Trump dominating. But at least there were some stakes.
ATTACKING TRUMP ... CAREFULLY
By staying physically offstage, Trump has largely avoided being attacked in the debates. It’s tricky to criticize a man beloved by most Republican voters, and for the most part, the contenders haven’t bothered. But that’s been slowly changing, and continued to Wednesday.
DeSantis opened with what’s become his standard campaign sound bite that claims that Trump is only interested in “his issues” and DeSantis cares about “your issues.” Haley quickly criticized the former president for piling onto the federal deficit, not being strong enough against China and failing to end illegal immigration.
The main mission for both candidates was to vault into second. But there are increasing signs that both know that, if they make it there, they have to have an argument for why Republican voters should back them and not their former president.
veryGood! (372)
Related
- Georgia's humbling loss to Mississippi leads college football winners and losers for Week 11
- Court Rejects Pipeline Rubber-Stamp, Orders Climate Impact Review
- The Luann and Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake Trailer Is More Wild Than We Imagined
- Wheeler in Wisconsin: Putting a Green Veneer on the Actions of Trump’s EPA
- Olivia Munn Says She “Barely Knew” John Mulaney When She Got Pregnant With Their Son
- Jamil was struggling after his daughter had a stroke. Then a doctor pulled up a chair
- What happened to the missing Titanic sub? Our reporter who rode on vessel explains possible scenarios
- Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill reaches settlement following incident at a Miami marina
- College Football Playoff snubs: Georgia among teams with beef after second rankings
- What Does ’12 Years to Act on Climate Change’ (Now 11 Years) Really Mean?
Ranking
- Suspect arrested after deadly Tuskegee University homecoming shooting
- Vanderpump Rules' Ariana Madix Ready to Dip Out of Her and Tom Sandoval's $2 Million Home
- Paramedics who fell ill responding to Mexico hotel deaths face own medical bills
- Apple AirTags can track your keys, wallet and luggage—save 10% today
- Jake Paul's only loss led him to retool the team preparing him to face Mike Tyson
- This shade of gray can add $2,500 to the value of your home
- Kim Kardashian Shares How Growing Up With Cameras Affects Her Kids
- After failing to land Lionel Messi, Al Hilal makes record bid for Kylian Mbappe
Recommendation
-
This is Your Sign To Share this Luxury Gift Guide With Your Partner *Hint* *Hint
-
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Targeted for Drilling in Senate Budget Plan
-
Major Tar Sands Oil Pipeline Cancelled, Dealing Blow to Canada’s Export Hopes
-
Climate Change Is Shifting Europe’s Flood Patterns, and These Regions Are Feeling the Consequences
-
Sister Wives’ Janelle Brown Alleges Ex Kody Made False Claims About Family’s Finances
-
Netflix switches up pricing plans for 2023: Cheapest plan without ads now $15.49
-
13 years after bariatric surgery, a 27-year-old says it changed her life
-
NFL record projections 2023: Which teams will lead the way to Super Bowl 58?