Former U.N. Ambassador and Florida Gov. faced off in the first one-on-one debate of the 2024 election cycle, while former President held a town hall at the same time.
The competing Wednesday night events in Iowa come just five days before the state's leadoff presidential caucuses and as the candidates are issuing last-minute appeals to voters to turn out for the Jan. 15 contest, which could be the ever.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who didn't qualify for the debate, dropped out of the race Wednesday in a late effort to blunt Trump's momentum heading into Iowa.
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Haley and DeSantis say the other was a good governor
Toward the end of the debate, DeSantis and Haley were asked what they admired about the other.
DeSantis cited Haley's time as 麻豆传媒AV Carolina's governor and as the United Nations ambassador during Trump's administration.
鈥淎t the United Nations, I did think that she spoke out strongly on some key issues, and I appreciated that,鈥� DeSantis said. 鈥淚 also appreciate the state of 麻豆传媒AV Carolina. My wife is a College of Charleston graduate. Her parents lived there for many, many years. And so it is a wonderful state. There鈥檚 a lot of great people there. To be able to have been governor, there is a great achievement."
Haley's answer was succinct: 鈥淚 think he鈥檚 been a good governor.鈥� It prompted an awkward 鈥淥K鈥� from CNN鈥檚 Jake Tapper.
Trump advisers sound optimistic note after debate
Trump's advisers are feeling confident heading into the Iowa caucuses.
Trump senior adviser Jason Miller told reporters that Wednesday night's debate between Haley and DeSantis showed 鈥渢wo candidates who were nowhere near ready for primetime.鈥�
Asked if they had any concerns about with record lows forecast in Iowa for caucus day, senior adviser Chris LaCivita quipped: 鈥淲ear a coat.鈥�
He added the campaign has 鈥減eople that are actually from Iowa who are running Iowa so they know that in January, it snows." He also said there are 鈥渃ontingencies鈥� in place, including drivers to get people to caucus sites.
No need to wean US off oil and gas, Haley and DeSantis agree
Haley and DeSantis say there is no need for Americans to wean themselves off oil and gas when it comes to dealing with climate change.
After the two found much else to spar over Wednesday, both suggested there was no point in the U.S. cutting its fossil fuel use since China was the world鈥檚 top polluter. Climate scientists disagree.
鈥淭he reason I took us out of the Paris climate agreement was because ... they didn鈥檛 do anything to hold China and India to account,鈥� said Haley, who was the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. when Trump pulled the country out of the landmark global climate deal.
Both also said they鈥檇 target Biden鈥檚 climate-friendly efforts as president and suggested that U.S. technology could innovate the country鈥檚 way out of climate danger.
鈥楬ere in Florida鈥�
If you tuned in at the wrong time, you might have thought the debate was filmed in Florida rather than snowy Iowa.
DeSantis spent much of his time onstage talking about his work as governor in his home state, even using the term 鈥渉ere in Florida鈥� without correcting himself during the debate.
鈥淲e are in a situation here in Florida and as Republicans, you need somebody that is going to be in there and fight for you,鈥� he said.
Even CNN moderator Jake Tapper slipped up on the debate location in the second hour.
鈥淗ere in Florida 鈥� I鈥檓 sorry, Gov. DeSantis, here in Iowa,鈥� Tapper said before referring to the floods that have left farms underwater in the Midwestern state.
Haley and DeSantis asked about Trump's call to terminate parts of Constitution
Haley and DeSantis were asked whether there was a meaningful difference in how they and the former president view the Constitution, considering Trump once called for the 鈥渢ermination鈥� of parts of the document that the 2020 election was stolen.
Haley says it's wrong for Trump to continue to falsely claim the 2020 election was stolen. She called the Jan. 6 Capitol riot a 鈥渢errible day鈥� and said, 鈥淚 think President Trump will have to answer for it.鈥�
DeSantis deflected a bit after saying that it was fair for the media to criticize Trump on this issue.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 just terminate the Constitution. I know he does word vomit from time to time on social media. But obviously I will uphold the Constitution.鈥�
But he quickly changed the topic to COVID-19 and how federal authorities imposed strict rules for lockdowns and social distancing.
鈥楤allistic podiatry鈥�
In a well-rehearsed zinger during a back-and-forth over Social Security reform, DeSantis joked that Haley has a 鈥減roblem with ballistic podiatry.鈥�
That means 鈥渟hooting yourself in the foot every other day,鈥� he quickly explained, drawing an eye roll from Haley.
The joke was a nod to Haley鈥檚 recent campaign trail gaffes, among them her omission of slavery when a voter asked her about the causes of the Civil War.
DeSantis campaign ally Rep. Thomas Massie used the term on the social media platform X last week after Haley said in an interview that you 鈥渃hange personalities鈥� going from Iowa to New Hampshire.
鈥淲e called this ballistic podiatry at MIT,鈥� the GOP Kentucky congressman wrote.
Raising the retirement age? Haley supports it, DeSantis doesn't
DeSantis and Haley are disagreeing over whether to raise the retirement age.
Haley supports raising the retirement age and has said that the current age of 65 is too low.
DeSantis on Wednesday night referenced his grandmother, who lived to be 91 and whose sole source of income was Social Security. He cited declining life expectancy in the United States as a reason he wouldn't support raising the age.
Haley said DeSantis voted as a congressman to raise the retirement age to 70. She says, 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 trust him.鈥�
Haley mocks DeSantis for campaign challenges
Haley is mocking DeSantis and the challenges his campaign has faced as numerous senior members of a super PAC backing him have resigned or been fired in recent weeks.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a revolving door of political people in and out of his campaign,鈥� Haley said.
鈥淚f he can鈥檛 handle the financial parts of a campaign, how is he going to handle the economy when it comes to the White House?" he asked.
DeSantis says Haley likes to focus on political processes that voters do not care about while he prefers to talk about his record as a governor.
School choice sparks disagreement at GOP debate
DeSantis and Haley are clashing over how they would lead the country in terms of education reform.
Asked about 麻豆传媒AV Carolina鈥檚 low ranking in terms of K-12 education during her time as governor, Haley said she advocated for more parent involvement and apprenticeships that 鈥渢aught our kids how to build the things we鈥檙e making.鈥�
DeSantis responded that Haley had 鈥渃aved to the teachers union鈥� when she was governor and wasn鈥檛 able to get school choice. DeSantis says school choice is 鈥渦niversal鈥� in Florida, passed through a state Legislature that has been very favorable to him.
Haley said she 鈥渨anted school choice鈥� but that her own state's Republican legislature wouldn鈥檛 do it.
Trump says he already knows who he'd pick as VP
Donald Trump sidestepped a question about who is in the running to be his running mate if he wins the nomination, but suggested he鈥檚 already made up his mind.
鈥淲ell I can鈥檛 tell you that, really,鈥� he said at a Fox News town hall. He added: 鈥淚 mean, I know who it鈥檚 going to be.鈥�
Trump was asked if he would consider someone who has run against him and was open to mending fences.
鈥淥h sure, I will, I will. I鈥檝e already started to like Christie better,鈥� he quipped after Christie, who dropped out of the race Wednesday, was caught on a hot mic saying he thinks Haley has no chance.
Christie was one of Trump鈥檚 top finalists for his running mate in 2016, but he chose Mike Pence instead.
Christie, a vocal Trump critic, has made clear he has no interest in the role.
Haley says DeSantis brought 鈥榤ost anti-Israel Republican鈥� to Iowa
During a discussion on the Israel-Hamas War, Haley twice accused DeSantis of bringing 鈥渢he most anti-Israel Republican鈥� with him on the campaign trail in Iowa.
She was referring to Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, who has been stumping for DeSantis in Iowa.
Massie was the lone House Republican to vote against a GOP resolution condemning antisemitism on university campuses in December. He has previously critiqued antisemitism-related legislation as restricting free speech.
DeSantis dismissed the jab, which Haley has used before while campaigning.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 just cheap garbage,鈥� DeSantis said.
Haley pans Biden for not knowing about Austin's hospitalization
Haley says Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's is evidence that the Biden administration doesn鈥檛 have a handle on how to handle the war between Israel and Hamas 鈥� or his own Cabinet.
Asked if she would support strikes on Iran to knock out Hezbollah, Haley said dealing with the situation was further complicated by Austin鈥檚 recent hospitalization for prostate cancer. The White House has said President Joe Biden didn鈥檛 know until Austin had already been in the hospital for days.
鈥淗ow does Biden not talk to his secretary of defense every single day, knowing that we have a war in Europe, a war in the Middle East?鈥� Haley asked. 鈥淭he idea that the secretary of defense would not even be in contact with the president, much less than contact with his staff, is unforgivable.鈥�
Haley and DeSantis split on support for Ukraine
Haley and DeSantis are splitting on the U.S. continuing support for Ukraine鈥檚 defense, with DeSantis suggesting it鈥檚 not a top U.S. priority.
DeSantis accused Haley of wanting an 鈥渙pen-ended commitment鈥� of U.S. money and arms for Ukraine. For his part, DeSantis said of Ukraine鈥檚 battle against Russian invaders, 鈥渨e need to find a way to end this.鈥� The U.S. should be focusing instead on the border and competition with China, he said.
Haley cast supporting Ukraine as a vital U.S. priority, saying it was essential to stop Russia鈥檚 aggression.
鈥淵ou do not have to choose鈥� between priorities like the border and Ukraine, she said. 鈥淭his is about keeping America safe. This is about preventing war.鈥�
DeSantis knocks Haley with 鈥榩ale pastels鈥� insult
DeSantis has twice used the phrasing of 鈥減ale pastels鈥� as a knock on Haley. She is the only woman in the race, and she is standing next to him on stage, clad in a pastel pink dress.
DeSantis first used the reference to portray the former 麻豆传媒AV Carolina governor as in favor of raising taxes. He said, 鈥淲e need to fly a flag of bold colors. Carrying the banner putting the American people first 鈥� not the pale pastels of the warmed-over corporatism of people like Nikki Haley.鈥�
Minutes later, he said it again in reference to immigration, saying Haley is 鈥渂ankrolled by people who want open borders鈥� and adding, 鈥淵ou should work with corporate CEOs, Governor, that is pale pastels.鈥�
Haley says remark about New Hampshire needing to 鈥榗orrect鈥� Iowa's decision was a joke
Haley says she was only joking when she told voters in New Hampshire that they would have the opportunity to 鈥渃orrect鈥� the decision made by Iowa caucusgoers.
DeSantis reminded viewers on Wednesday night about her comments and called them insulting.
鈥淪he was in another state, and she said the people of Iowa need to be corrected,鈥� DeSantis said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 need a candidate who is going to look down on middle America.鈥�
"Iowans know when you鈥檙e telling a joke,鈥� Haley replied.
Haley touts her UN experience
Haley is pointing to her foreign policy experience pretty often in the opening minutes of the debate.
鈥淚 dealt with Russia, Iran, China every day," she said of her time as U.N. ambassador. "No one ever said I caved. I defended America and I fought for America.鈥�
Haley and DeSantis trade jabs on lies
At the very start of the debate, DeSantis and Haley are going after each other for lying and misrepresenting their positions.
Referencing Haley, DeSantis said, 鈥淲e don鈥檛 need another mealy-mouthed politician who just tells you what she thinks you want to hear just to try to get your vote, then to get an office and to do her donors' bidding.鈥� He also mentioned her previous positive comments about drawing inspiration from Hillary Clinton, a point that he鈥檚 hit repeatedly during the GOP campaign.
Haley several times mentioned a new website called that her campaign has stood up. She said that DeSantis鈥� campaign is 鈥渆xploding鈥� and that 鈥渉e鈥檚 only mad about the donors, because the donors used to be with him, but they鈥檙e no longer with him now."
Haley鈥檚 campaign also blasted out an email heralding the website as her 鈥渟urprise gift鈥� that would be 鈥渄etailing and fact checking all of DeSantis鈥� lies.鈥�
And we're off!
The fifth Republican presidential debate and a competing town hall have begun in Iowa.
Wednesday night's debate is the last big opportunity for DeSantis and Haley to make their case to voters before the state's leadoff GOP caucuses next week.
Meanwhile, Trump is once again skipping the debate. This time, he鈥檒l be sitting down with Fox News hosts Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum for a live town hall in Des Moines.
Trump rarely sits for interviews with mainstream hosts. His recent Fox town halls have been with his longtime friend Sean Hannity, though he did participate in a heated CNN town hall. His last sit-down with Baier included pointed questions about his handling of classified information and other topics.
What鈥檚 at stake for Republicans in Iowa?
For Republicans, there are usually two prizes in the Iowa caucuses: delegates and bragging rights.
Iowa Republican voters will indicate their picks for the party鈥檚 presidential nominee next Monday, and the results of that vote will determine how many of the state鈥檚 40 convention delegates each candidate will receive.
Candidates win national convention delegates in direct proportion to the percentage of the vote they receive. There is no minimum threshold required to qualify for delegates.
For Democrats, nothing is at stake, since the 2024 caucuses will have no bearing on the presidential race.
Dozens of vehicles stranded after Iowa snowstorm
An AP reporter driving from Des Moines to Davenport for a Trump campaign event spotted dozens of cars and trucks stranded along the side of Interstate 80, a major artery through Iowa.
A couple of trucks were on their side, while other vehicles had crashed into a barrier along the median.
Candidates were forced to cancel their events earlier in the week when heavy snow hit the leadoff caucus state. Vivek Ramaswamy said his car got stuck in a ditch while driving in snowy weather Monday night to Des Moines from northwest Iowa.
Trump and DeSantis agree: Haley will 鈥榞et smoked鈥�
Trump and DeSantis don't agree on much but do find common ground on one thing: Christie鈥檚 parting shot at Haley.
Trump said Wednesday that he might 鈥渆ven get to like鈥� Christie again after the departing presidential candidate was caught on a hot mic saying that Haley was 鈥済oing to get smoked鈥� and was 鈥渘ot up to this.鈥�
DeSantis鈥� sentiment in a post on X was similar: 鈥淚 agree with Christie that Nikki Haley is 鈥榞oing to get smoked.鈥欌��
Haley, meanwhile, was gracious in her well wishes for Christie, calling her former fellow governor 鈥渁 friend for many years鈥� and commending him 鈥渙n a hard-fought campaign.鈥�
Hot mic moment before Christie drops out
Christie was caught on a hot mic bashing Haley moments before he ended his campaign at a New Hampshire town hall.
鈥淪he鈥檚 going to get smoked,鈥� he said of Haley, adding: 鈥淪he鈥檚 not up to this.鈥�
He also said that former Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had called him, 鈥減etrified" that he was going to endorse Haley, but the hot mic was cut before he finished speaking.
Christie also appeared to defend his performance in the race as Trump continues to dominate.
鈥淧eople don鈥檛 want to hear it. They don鈥檛 want to hear it. We know we鈥檙e right, but they don鈥檛 want to hear it,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 have been any clearer. We couldn鈥檛 have been any more direct or worked any harder.鈥�
Stakes are high for Haley and DeSantis
Haley and DeSantis have spent much of the Republican presidential primary flanked by lower-polling rivals, so the for the former U.N. ambassador and the Florida governor at Wednesday's debate.
The moment is especially important for Haley, a politician long known for her disciplined approach to messaging but who has recently suffered a series of gaffes.
Oops!
DeSantis left an important item in Florida when he flew back to Iowa after delivering his State of the State address Tuesday.
鈥淚 actually do have a winter coat,鈥� DeSantis told a construction contractors convention in Des Moines on Wednesday. 鈥淎nd I forgot it. I left it at home.鈥�
The temperatures for Iowa were below freezing and headed to below zero through Monday鈥檚 caucuses. DeSantis told the crowd that his staff was hustling his coat from Tallahassee before he headed up to even-chillier northwest Iowa on Thursday.
鈥淚 think I鈥檒l need much more than that,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think I鈥檓 going to need the earmuffs and all that stuff.鈥�
The Associated Press
