Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley clashed Wednesday night over Iowa Republican votes in the final debate before the Hawkeye State’s first caucus next week, and each sought a comeback victory over former President Donald Trump .
With five days left until the vote, the candidates spent two hours on CNN repeating their differences over aid to Ukraine, raising the retirement age and pressuring corporations like Disney on social issues, when not launching personal attacks.
DeSantis, the governor of Florida, accused Haley of being a “corporatist” beholden to big-money donors who were likely to “back down” on their promises, while the former South Carolina governor and ambassador to the United Nations mocked him calling him “a desperate man.” “Liar that he ran an incompetent, wasteful campaign.
Trump leads among Iowa voters by a wide margin in public polls and stayed out of the race by skipping the forum in favor of his own nearby Fox News town hall.
The 45th president has the support of 52.2% of Iowa Republicans, according to RealClearPolitics’ average of recent polls, followed by Haley at 16.6% and DeSantis at 16.4%.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis accused Haley of being a “corporatist” beholden to big donors who would likely “give in” on social issues. AP
However, the identity of the runner-up could be significant even if Trump wins, as candidates who defy expectations could gain momentum heading into the Jan. 23 primary in New Hampshire, where recent polls show Haley within striking distance. of Trump.
DeSantis opened the debate with an attack, saying: “Donald Trump is running to address your problems. Nikki Haley is running to address his donor issues. I am running to address your problems and those of your family.”
Criticizing Haley, he added: “We don’t need another big-mouthed politician who just tells you what he thinks you want to hear.”
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley mocked DeSantis as a “hopeless” liar who had run an incompetently wasteful campaign. REUTERS
The South Carolina resident responded by telling viewers at least 11 times that they should visit the website DeSantisLies.com, where her campaign sought to counter her attacks; At one point she added a typical Southern “bless her heart” from her before closing the site. again.
“He’s just mad at the donors because the donors used to be with him, but they’re not with him anymore,” he said. “His campaign is exploding”
Haley concluded by warning Republicans that a second Trump administration would bring “four more years of chaos” and said it could “make America proud again.”
At the beginning of the debate, DeSantis compared his campaign to that of former President Trump and Haley, saying he was the only one taking care of “his problems and his family’s problems.” REUTERS Haley gestures with her hands toward DeSantis during Wednesday night’s Republican presidential debate. fake images
On the policy front, the candidates laid out their stark differences over aid to Ukraine, as President Biden seeks another $61.4 billion from Congress after $113 billion has already been allocated.
Haley accused DeSantis of “copying Trump and trying to act like he doesn’t want to support Ukraine” and said funding Ukraine is aimed at “preventing war,” including deterring a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
DeSantis responded that Haley “is basically a carbon copy of what Biden is doing” by supporting “indefinite engagement” with kyiv before adding that “a lot of people have died and we need to find a way to end this.”
DeSantis and Haley shake hands before their debate at Drake University’s Sheslow Auditorium on January 10, 2024. Getty Images
On the question of whether to raise the Social Security retirement age for full benefits from the current 66 or 67, DeSantis said he opposes it because of declining life expectancy in the United States.
“Under your administration, seniors would receive fewer cost-of-living adjustments, while your tax money would pay for Ukrainians’ pensions,” criticized Haley, who said she would be open to raising the retirement age for people. currently in his 20s,
“They should plan to increase their retirement age,” he said.
The candidates also diverged on DeSantis’ crusade against Disney after the entertainment giant opposed a Florida law that restricted discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools.
DeSantis looks toward his podium as Haley speaks as the two Republican presidential candidates debate each other at Drake University January 10, 2024. REUTERS
Co-moderator Dana Bash asked DeSantis: “How does that fit with the traditional conservative view that small, limited government is better?”
“The proper role of government, if it means anything, is to protect our children,” DeSantis said. “It’s wrong to tell a kindergartener, as Disney wanted to do, that you can change your gender or to tell a third grader that you were born in the wrong body.”
He continued to attack the “corporate” Haley, saying that “she supported $900 million in subsidies to Boeing when she was in South Carolina. Then when she left office, she took a seat on her board of directors and made millions of dollars.”
DeSantis and Haley point fingers at each other during the debate on January 10, 2024. REUTERS
Haley responded: “We’re not woke in South Carolina… but one thing that’s not done is that the government doesn’t bully our businesses and that can’t happen and Ron is determined: anyone who offends him, he’s going after them. “
The candidates also mocked each other for campaign mistakes, with DeSantis highlighting Haley’s recent comment that New Hampshire could “correct” the Iowa results, which she said was a joke.
“He has wasted $150 million (I don’t know how that’s done) throughout his campaign and has nothing to show for it,” Haley criticized. “He’s spent more on private flights than commercial ones in Iowa… If he can’t manage a campaign, how are you going to manage a country?”
While DeSantis and Haley debated each other, Trump held a town hall meeting in Des Moines, Iowa, which was broadcast on Fox News on Wednesday night. fake images
DeSantis responded that Haley may be “more liberal than Gavin Newsom,” the governor of California, and said of the former diplomat’s work in the Trump administration: “You can take out the ambassador of the United Nations, but you can’t take out the United States.” . Nations outside the ambassador.”
Meanwhile, Trump drew attention by joking on his Fox town hall that he already picked a running mate as he seeks a rematch against Biden, who narrowly defeated the 45th president in 2020.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn