DES MOINES, Iowa — Just two Republican presidential candidates, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, will meet on the debate stage Wednesday night. With just five days before the Iowa caucuses, the debate may be their last, best chance to change the trajectory of the race before voting begins.
The big front-runner, Donald Trump, was the only other candidate to meet the 10% polling threshold to participate. But as he has six times before, the Republican former president is declining to show up given his overwhelming lead in the polls.
Here’s what we’re watching heading into the 9 p.m. EST event that will be hosted by CNN:
ONE ON ONE
And then there were two.
In style, if not substance, Wednesday’s one-on-one debate may offer the closest thing to a general election debate preview that we’ve seen. Only Haley and DeSantis will be on stage. There is no place to hide and no other candidates to get in the way.
Some of the most memorable moments in past debates have featured Haley feuding with Vivek Ramaswamy. That’s all in the past, given that Ramaswamy didn’t meet the polling threshold this time. DeSantis’ allies are also quick to note that Chris Christie won’t be there either to defend Haley, as he did in the last debate.
Signs are displayed ahead of the Republican presidential debate at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. Credit: AP/Andrew Harnik
The same challenges apply to DeSantis, however. The Florida governor has improved as a presidential candidate, but he’s not particularly natural on stage. That’s notable because body language and tone may end up playing a more prominent role in this meeting given that both will be on camera almost constantly.
And there is an added dynamic with a man and woman on stage. Who could forget the image of Trump looming behind Hillary Clinton in a 2016 general election debate?
THE URGENCY IS REAL
Iowa Republicans will vote in less than a week. Both candidates are fighting with…
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