Haley and DeSantis enter the GOP debate with strong arguments.
Subscribe to receive the daily Inside Washington email, which features exclusive coverage and analysis of the United States, delivered directly to your inbox.
Receive our complimentary email newsletter, Inside Washington.
As the 2024 Iowa caucuses draw near, potential presidential candidates from the Republican Party are presenting their last appeals to voters throughout the state after the concluding GOP debate at Drake University in Des Moines on Wednesday evening.
Although Donald Trump is currently in the lead in polls, Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, and Nikki Haley, former UN ambassador and governor of South Carolina, are competing fiercely for second place in hopes of gaining momentum before the New Hampshire primary.
Once more, Mr. Trump refused to take part in the debate hosted by CNN, and both Vivek Ramaswamy and Chris Christie did not meet the requirements to participate.
The previous governor of New Jersey halted his campaign for president just hours prior to the start of the debate. He was caught on a microphone referring to Mr. DeSantis as “petrified” and anticipating that Ms. Haley would not fare well.
During the debate, Ms. Haley continuously accused her opponent of being dishonest and referred to him as “desperate”.
Both candidates refrained from harshly criticizing Mr. Trump, although Mr. DeSantis did accuse him of engaging in “massive gaslighting” regarding his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic during a Thursday interview.
The ex-president participated in an individual Fox News town hall before going back to New York for the final statements of his trial for civil fraud.
Things to be mindful of in Iowa, the initial competition of the 2024 presidential race.
The long-awaited moment has arrived: the initial examination of the Republican candidates by the electorate.
Four notable Republican contenders have entered Ohio with varying goals. Donald Trump, the leading candidate, desires a strong win to demonstrate to voters and financial supporters that he has essentially secured the nomination. Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis are aiming for surprising triumphs that will provide them with the boost necessary to surpass Mr. Trump in future states, like New Hampshire. Meanwhile, Vivek Ramaswamy is seeking a boost of energy for his struggling campaign after being excluded from the debate.
In light of poor performance in the initial 2024 competition and declining popularity in New Hampshire, Chris Christie has decided to give up.
Those studying politics are eagerly watching Iowa for hints about the future of the primary race. They are particularly interested in finding out if anyone has a chance of defeating Mr. Trump. The results on Monday will have a significant impact on the fate of various candidates and will also spark discussion about the upcoming general election.
These are the things that The Independent is monitoring during the weekend.
In case you missed it, Haley is increasing the competitiveness of New Hampshire while Trump’s lead in Iowa continues to grow.
In the latest Morning Consult poll for the Iowa caucuses, the governor of South Carolina was ahead of her competitor from Florida. The results were published on Tuesday, just days before the caucuses will be held. However, her advantage was within the poll’s margin of error and significantly behind Donald Trump, who remains the top contender for the nomination.
It is possible that Ms. Haley will achieve a partial success next week, according to the most recent poll on Monday. Despite Mr. DeSantis heavily investing in the state, she may still manage to secure an unexpected victory. However, the survey suggests that she may be trailing behind the front-runner by as much as 40 points in the initial contest.
This scenario would create an intriguing predicament for the ex-ambassador as she enters New Hampshire with determination.
Rand Paul hints at making an announcement about the 2024 election.
“I have refrained from getting involved in the Republican Presidential Primary up to this point, but I have observed enough. Therefore, tomorrow morning, I will have something significant to announce. Be sure not to miss it!” Mr. Paul stated on X during Thursday afternoon, posting a video of himself encouraging his supporters to “tune in tomorrow morning”.
President Trump has announced that he has selected his vice presidential candidate.
At the town hall meeting, Mr. Trump alluded to having already chosen his running mate, but declined to reveal any information to hosts Martha MacCallum and Bret Baier.
Rachel Sharp reports:
Is there a demand for students fleeing campus antisemitism in Florida?
This week, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida instructed the state’s universities to simplify the transfer process for out-of-state students who have experienced antisemitism or other forms of religious harassment due to the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas.
DeSantis’ directive on Tuesday piggybacks on blowback some Ivy League leaders have faced in response to how they’re handling antisemitism and anti-Israel protests on their campuses. The governor’s office said there has been an increase in inquiries about transferring, without providing any numbers to back that up.
DeSantis alleges that Trump is engaging in significant gaslighting.
During an interview on MSNBC’s Morning Joe on Thursday, Governor DeSantis talked about the debate, his position in the polls, and remarks made by former President Trump regarding his management of the COVID-19 pandemic.
DeSantis ridicules Haley by calling her ‘Hillary’.
During his campaign in Iowa today, Ron DeSantis made a remark about Nikki Haley, mentioning her past statement about Hillary Clinton being her inspiration to run for office. This came after he had previously criticized her for identifying as a Republican but governing in a liberal manner.
The situation within the GOP is deteriorating, and even if they win in 2024, it may not improve.
Eric Garcia writes:
The reason for this is that other members of the GOP are refusing to acknowledge the truth and are instead fixated on their own delusions, believing that they can overlook the pressing issues at hand and prioritize their own personal interests in order to maintain control.
On Wednesday night, potential contenders for the Republican presidential nomination, Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, engaged in a verbal dispute, while ignoring the fact that Mr. Trump has a significant lead before the Iowa caucuses next Monday. Recent polls also indicate that he is ahead by almost 20 points in New Hampshire.
The statement was made shortly after former governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie, departed, criticizing his fellow Republicans for not standing up to Mr Trump. Prior to the statement, a microphone captured the outspoken New Jerseyan stating that Ms Haley would be defeated and that Mr DeSantis had contacted him and was afraid.
Throughout the discussion, the two contenders briefly mentioned him but avoided addressing questions from CNN moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash regarding the previous leader.
A former advisor to Trump criticizes the Republican candidates for their defense of felony charges.
Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former member of the Trump White House who now works as a political commentator for CNN and co-hosts The View, echoes Chris Christie’s recent comments as he dropped out of the race for the presidential nomination.
The ex-Governor of New Jersey criticized his Republican rivals for refusing to criticize former President Donald Trump despite facing 91 felony charges, and instead pledging their continued support for him.
Ms Griffin said on X on Thursday morning: “If Trump wins the nomination, it’s not because he worked for it. He hasn’t showed up to debates, he’s been in early states the least of any GOP candidate. It will be because his GOP opponents (other than Christie) decided to defend him against 91 felony charges.”
During an interview on The View this morning, Liz Cheney, a former Republican politician and outspoken critic of Trump, expressed her doubt about the GOP’s ability to survive while being so heavily influenced by a cult of personality.
Ms. Cheney suggests that a new party should be created to represent conservative beliefs. She believes that this party should be able to work with Democrats on important issues and policies. She also predicts that after the 2024 election, there will be significant changes in our political landscape.
Watch below:
DeSantis criticizes Trump for his extensive gaslighting on the response to Covid-19.
Source: independent.co.uk
