In the latest development of the 2024 United States presidential election cycle, the spotlight narrows down to two contenders in the fifth Republican Party debate.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former United Nations envoy Nikki Haley take center stage in the smallest primary debate turnout for this election year.
This event unfolds just days before the crucial Iowa caucuses scheduled for January 15, marking the inaugural contest in the US primary season.
The upcoming caucuses provide a pivotal opportunity to gauge the pulse of the US electorate.
However, the Republican nomination race has been relatively subdued, largely due to the dominant position of former President Donald Trump, who consistently leads in recent polls.
The Iowa caucuses become a formal platform to assess the support Trump commands compared to his Republican contenders.
The participants in the CNN-hosted debate are limited to only two Republican hopefuls: Haley and DeSantis.
Entrepreneurs Vivek Ramaswamy and ex-New Jersey Governor Chris Christie failed to qualify, requiring candidates to secure at least 10 percent in three national and/or Iowa polls. The debate, set to commence at 8 pm local time, offers a confrontation between Haley and DeSantis, who have been closely matched in recent national polls, albeit trailing behind Trump.
Notably, Trump qualifies for the Iowa debate but has abstained, consistent with his absence from all prior Republican primary debates in the 2024 season.
Instead, the former president opts for a town hall interview in Des Moines, aired by Fox News concurrently with the debate.
Critics view this move as strategic “counter-programming” to divert viewership away from his rivals’ events.
Trump contends that his commanding lead obviates the need for participation, a stance criticized by his Republican opponents.
As the debate unfolds, the leading candidate in Iowa remains Trump, commanding 50 percent support among Republican primary voters as of January 8. DeSantis and Haley trail significantly, with 18.4 percent and 15.7 percent, respectively.
The agenda for the debate is expected to cover crucial issues for Republican voters, including immigration, the economy, and US foreign policy.
Previous debates witnessed confrontations between DeSantis and Haley on conservative credentials, transgender healthcare, and differing views on China.
However, both candidates expressed support for Israel’s military actions in Gaza and critiqued Trump’s performance on his 2016 promises.
Source: king5.com
