DeSantis vs Haley: Trump rivals face off in final Republican debate before Iowa caucuses
- Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley jockeyed for second place at CNN debate as front runner Donald Trump held rival town hall on Fox News
- Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie dropped out of the race on Wednesday, five days before the pivotal Iowa caucuses
Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis pitched Republicans on their bids to be the 2024 presidential candidate in the final debate before nominating begins – but spurned repeated chances to make the case for abandoning front runner Donald Trump.
The head-to-head showdown on Wednesday in Iowa capital Des Moines came five days before the state’s pivotal opening vote in the primary season, considered crucial for winnowing the field and giving those left standing a springboard for the rest of the race.
Trump has a commanding lead despite the multiple legal challenges he faces, but has skipped the televised debates, concluding he has nothing to gain by taking prime-time hits from lower-polling rivals.
But it quickly became clear that they were competing to be the absent former president’s closest runner-up in Iowa rather than looking to eat into his lead as they ducked repeat opportunities to criticise him.
