HOUSTON, United States
The battle for the number two spot for the Republican presidential nomination raged on Wednesday night as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis faced off against former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in Iowa – an early battleground state to win the party’s nomination.
Former President Donald Trump was a no-show for the debate yet again, as he is comfortably ahead in the polls, and both candidates took swings at the former president.
"I wish Donald Trump was up here on this stage. He's the one that I'm running against. He's the one that I wish would be here," said Haley, who served as UN ambassador to the UN under Trump.
"He needs to be defending his record. Right now, he's not defending the fact that he allowed us to have $8 trillion in debt over 4 years that our kids are never gonna forgive us for," she added.
"He said he was gonna build a wall and have Mexico pay for it. He did not deliver that. He said he was gonna drain the swamp. He did not deliver that," said DeSantis, stepping up his attacks on the former president.
"He said he was gonna eliminate the debt and he added $7.8 trillion to the debt. So we need to deliver and get this stuff done," the Florida governor added.
Just hours before the debate started, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie announced that he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race. Tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy was not invited to take part in the debate because of his low poll numbers, giving way to Haley and DeSantis taking direct jabs at each other.
Accusations of incompetence
When discussing social security, the candidates got snippy with each other.
"Under her administration, you would have seniors getting less cost of living adjustments while your tax dollars are going to pay the pensions of Ukrainian bureaucrats," said DeSantis.
"That's not true. That's such a lie, Ron," Haley exclaimed as DeSantis tried to talk over her.
"You're so desperate. You're just so desperate," she continued.
"She said she's always supported school choice and she failed to deliver. She blames other people," said DeSantis. "Leadership is about getting things done. Stop making excuses. Make it happen."
Haley did not hesitate to hit right back.
"If leadership's about getting things done, how did you blow through $150 million in your campaign and you are down in the polls?" said Haley. "You're in fifth place ... Why should we think you can manage or do anything in this country?"
With both candidates trying to differentiate themselves as to why they should be the one facing Trump for the Republican nomination, their focus turned directly to Trump's handling of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
"He says January 6th was a beautiful day. I don't think it was a beautiful day," Haley said. "That (2020) election, Trump lost it. Biden won that election. And the idea that he's gone and carried this out forever to the point that he's gonna continue to say these things to scare the American people are wrong."
"I think what happened on January 6th was a terrible day and I think President Trump will have to answer for it," Haley continued.
"He (Trump) sat in the White House and tweeted law and order, but he did nothing to ensure law and order," said DeSantis.
Regardless of what took place between Haley and DeSantis on stage, Trump leads most Iowa polls with close to 50% leading up to the Iowa caucuses, which will be held on Jan. 15.
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