CNN’s Iowa debate looks set to be a showdown between DeSantis and Haley
A Republican presidential primary debate that CNN plans to host next week in Des Moines appears likely to be a one-on-one showdown between Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley, who are fighting to emerge from the state’s caucuses as the final alternative to former President Donald. J Trump.
Both Mr. DeSantis, the governor of Florida, and Ms. Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, are top contenders to win the caucuses as they trail Mr. Trump in polls of Iowans. average of more than 30 points. But for either to have even a remote chance of claiming the nomination, that person would have to push the other out of the race, which they could do — or at least take a first step toward doing so — by beating them for second place in the race. Iowa.
Mr. Trump did not participate in the official debates sponsored by the Republican National Committee last year, and he is not expected to participate in the CNN debates. (The Iowa event will be followed by a similar event in New Hampshire.) And no other candidates qualified by the deadline Tuesday.
Participants needed at least 10 percent support in three national or Iowa polls that met CNN’s criteria, including at least one poll of likely Iowa caucusgoers. The entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy; former Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey, who has largely ignored Iowa in favor of campaigning in New Hampshire; and former Gov. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas fell short of that goal.
In a message on X Mr Ramaswamy said he would not participate even if he were eligible. Mr. Ramaswamy expressed anger to CNN over the network’s fact-checking of the conspiracy theories he raised at a town hall event last month and over CNN anchors and commentators’ criticism of him. He also accused the network of rejecting some polls that the Republican National Committee accepted to qualify candidates for its debates.
He said he would instead do a live show with right-wing commentator Tim Pool on January 10, the night of the debate. Trump is scheduled to participate in his own counterprogramming: a town hall event that Fox News announced this on Tuesday.