Key takeaways from Haley vs. DeSantis clash in Republican debate
The CNN-sponsored primary debate between Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis
The highly anticipated primary debate, sponsored by CNN, took place on Wednesday night between former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and Governor Ron DeSantis. The atmosphere was charged with sharp exchanges and barbs as the candidates vied for support ahead of the upcoming Iowa caucuses on January 15.
It was the first time that DeSantis and Haley went head-to-head in the GOP primary, and while they both acknowledged the absence of former President Donald Trump, they refrained from launching heavy attacks against him. Instead, their focus was on rallying disaffected GOP voters behind their respective campaigns, as Trump remains the clear front-runner in the field.
With only five days remaining before the first voters make their decision, time is running out to prevent Trump from securing the nomination. The CNN debate, held at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, provided the two candidates with a final opportunity to make their strongest arguments.
Top takeaways from the debate
- DeSantis and Haley call out Trump for snubbing the debate, but save their fire for each other
- Haley can’t stop plugging her new website
- DeSantis paints Haley as not conservative enough
- Debate stage unlikely to tip the race
DeSantis and Haley call out Trump for snubbing debate, but save fire for each other
During the debate, both DeSantis and Haley wasted no time in criticizing Trump for choosing to skip the event in favor of a Fox News town hall. Despite meeting CNN’s qualifications, Trump refused to share the stage with his top rivals, as he had done in previous debates.
Haley expressed her disappointment, stating, “I wish Donald Trump was up here on this stage. He’s the one that I’m running against. He needs to be defending his record.”
However, instead of focusing on Trump, Haley and DeSantis directed their attacks at each other, highlighting their conservative credentials. This move seemed surprising, considering Trump’s significant lead in national and early state polls.
In a particularly sharp rebuke, DeSantis targeted Haley’s financial backers, accusing her of being a “mealy-mouthed politician” who caters to donors. Haley fired back, claiming that DeSantis was upset about losing support from his former donors.
Haley can’t stop plugging new website
Throughout the debate, Haley repeatedly directed the audience to visit her campaign’s newly created website, DeSantisLies.com. She urged viewers to uncover the alleged lies told by DeSantis, claiming there were at least two dozen falsehoods about her. Her campaign even sent out an email during the debate, promoting the website as a “surprise gift” for DeSantis.
However, Haley’s constant references to the website did not sit well with social media users or the live audience. According to GOP consultant Frank Luntz, the audience began to groan whenever Haley mentioned the website, suggesting that it was working against her.
DeSantis paints Haley as not conservative enough
DeSantis, who is banking on winning the Iowa caucuses with the support of evangelicals, sought to cast doubt on Haley’s conservatism during the debate. When the topic of illegal immigration arose, DeSantis seized the opportunity to attack Haley’s stance.
He accused her of being unreliable on the issue, citing her remarks at the Aspen Institute where she allegedly chastised conservatives for labeling illegal immigrants as criminals. DeSantis argued that it was disrespectful to ignore the fact that they were violating the law and imposing burdens on communities.
DeSantis also criticized Haley for her past opposition to Trump’s travel ban and accused her of using the language of the left to attack pro-lifers during a discussion on abortion.
Haley defended herself, claiming that DeSantis and others lacked the ability to discuss abortion properly.
Debate stage not likely to tip race
Despite the heated exchanges, the debate is unlikely to have a significant impact on the GOP primary before the Iowa caucuses. Trump remains the front-runner, while DeSantis is focused on fending off Haley’s rising popularity to secure the second spot.
According to GOP strategist Ford O’Connell, the debate failed to differentiate the candidates from Trump or Joe Biden, leaving voters disappointed. The most game-shaking moment of the night occurred before the debate when former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie dropped out of the race. While this may help Haley consolidate support for the New Hampshire primary, O’Connell believes it is still unlikely for her to defeat Trump.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
How did online reactions to Nikki Haley’s repeated plugs during the debate affect the perception of her sincerity and distract from the substance of the debate?
Ding to online reactions, many found her repeated plugs to be distracting and insincere, detracting from the substance of the debate.
DeSantis paints Haley as not conservative enough
Throughout the debate, Governor DeSantis consistently attempted to portray Nikki Haley as not conservative enough for the Republican base. He attacked her stance on various policy issues, including immigration and taxes, arguing that she has not stood firmly on conservative principles. DeSantis emphasized his own track record as Florida’s governor, emphasizing his conservative achievements and positioning himself as the true conservative choice.
Debate stage unlikely to tip the race
While the debate was highly anticipated, it is unlikely to significantly impact the race. Given that Donald Trump remains the clear front-runner in the GOP field, both Haley and DeSantis recognized that their real challenge lies in capturing the attention and support of disaffected GOP voters. The debate provided them with an opportunity to make their case, but with only five days until the Iowa caucuses, time is quickly running out for the candidates to make a game-changing impact.
Overall, the CNN-sponsored primary debate between Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis provided a platform for the two candidates to present their arguments and rally support ahead of the upcoming Iowa caucuses. While the absence of former President Donald Trump was noted, both candidates focused on differentiating themselves from one another rather than launching heavy attacks against Trump. With the race tightening and time running out, the debate served as a crucial opportunity for candidates to make their strongest case and appeal to disaffected GOP voters. However, it remains to be seen whether their efforts will be enough to challenge Trump’s lead and secure the nomination.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
Now loading...