POINTING FINGER: Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley called each other liars during the CNN debate on Wednesday. Photo: CHIP SOMODEVILLA / AFP / NTB
DES MOINES, IOWA (VG) They both want to be the next president of the United States, but are fighting the elephant in the room. Iowa voters tell VG that they hope for Nikki Haley.
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- Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis faced off in a televised duel in Iowa ahead of the primary
- DeSantis wants to build border wall and end asylum for undocumented migrants
- Haley says Trump was “the right president at the right time,” but not now
- Iowa Republicans tell VG that they see Haley as a future female president
- Haley has a somewhat more open approach to abortion, while DeSantis wants to ban it after six weeks
Sea view
Once again, Donald Trump (77) shines with his absence in a live televised debate in the battle to become the next president of the United States.
Instead, the fifth and probably last debate in a row, just days before the primary election breaks loose, has turned into a duel between Nikki Haley (51) and Ron DeSantis (45).
VG is in place in Des Moines in the state of Iowa to follow CNN’s presidential candidate debate.
Three miles away in the snow-covered, cold Midwestern landscape, Trump is holding a solo show, broadcast on Fox News.
Background: This is at stake in Iowa
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Haley on Trump: – Not right for the United States now
– I wish Trump was up here on stage. He’s the one I’m fighting against, Haley says of Trump from the podium in Des Moines.
Iowa’s Republican voters will choose a presidential candidate on Monday.
Trump leads superbly the opinion polls for Iowa, while Florida Governor DeSantis is in precarious second place. If former UN ambassador and South Carolina governor Haley beats him here, many believe that the race is over for DeSantis.
The journalists follow the debate in Des Moines. Photo: Thomas Nilsson / VG
Neither DeSantis nor Haley wanted to clearly distance themselves from Trump in the election campaign – despite the fact that the former president has been charged in four criminal cases.
Both will support him as the party’s chosen candidate even if he were to be convicted.
– I believe that Trump was the right president at the right time. I agree with a lot of his politics. But I don’t think he is right for the United States now, says Haley.
– We cannot have four new years with Trump.
Trump may not be physically present at the debate, but in VG’s inbox his campaign comments diligently – minute by minute:
– I like him as governor
DeSantis and Haley go at each other during the CNN debate on topics such as support for Ukraine, taxes and immigration. DeSantis promised to complete the border wall, and zero asylum for undocumented migrants.
– We are going to build the wall, and we are going to make Mexico pay for it, said DeSantis.
Both accuse each other of being liars – time and time again.
Haley’s parade number during the debate was to refer to “desantislies.com», a website Haley’s campaign has set up – to laughter from the audience.
Info
USA expert: You should keep an eye on this in Iowa
US expert Eirik Løkke at the Civita think tank believes this is the most important thing to get in the primary election in Iowa:
- How big is Trump winning? If he does not win clearly, there will be major consequences, according to Løkke.
- Can Haley catch up to DeSantis? According to the opinion polls on Fivethirtyeight DeSantis leads with 18.4 percent, to Haley’s 15.7 percent.
- If DeSantis comes third in Iowa, it may be difficult for him to continue the fight. Haley, on the other hand, can afford to lose Iowa, because she is well placed in the next state; New Hampshire. If she wins Iowa, she can certainly get a boost in New Hampshire and be able to challenge Trump there.
Sea view
When the two rivals were asked what they admire about the other, she was quick to reply,
– I like what she did at the UN, and I like the state of South Carolina, my wife has studied in Charleston, he said, as he searched for the words a little.
– I like him as governor, answered Haley matter-of-factly and with a satisfied smile. (But not as president, implicitly.)
After the two-hour long debate was finished, VG met DeSantis’ spokesperson Andrew Romeo. His conclusion was clear:
– DeSantis won the debate big tonight. He owned the stage and the proceedings, Nikki Haley was clearly confused and amazed. DeSantis will do well on Monday.
Betsy Sarcone (40) and daughter Lydia (14). Photo: Thomas Nilsson / VG
America’s first female president?
Before the debate, VG talks to Betsy (40) and Lydia Sarcone (14), who are on their way in to hear the candidates.
Mother and daughter have attended election rallies with both Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley.
– I like Nikki Haley best. It was really cool to meet her. She is a great candidate to become America’s first female president, says Lydia with a big smile.
The mother votes in:
– I’m a Nikki Haley fan myself. I started out as a DeSantis voter, but I changed course.
Trump at his solo campaign rally in Des Moines, Iowa, on Wednesday. Photo: JOE RAEDLE / AFP / NTB
Thinks Haley wins on abortion
– What made you change your choice?
– I like that she is more on the middle ground on several issues, such as abortion, and that means she has a greater chance of winning over independent votes, says Betsy.
- DeSantis wants to make self-determined abortion illegal after six weeks, while Haley says she is “pro life”, while also opposing a national ban.
- Abortion is a major contentious issue in the conservative Midwestern state.
- This summer, the Iowa authorities, which are dominated by Republicans, introduced a ban on abortion after six weeks – with exceptions in the case of incest or rape. The amendment to the law was temporarily halted in the state’s supreme court, and as of now abortion applies up to week 20 in Iowa.
– Has a great chance against Trump
Farmer Chad Ingles is also on his way to the debate. He is elected for the Republicans in the state, and has shaken hands with all the presidential candidates (there were a total of 13 of them).
– I recently decided that I will vote for Nikki Haley, says Igles to VG.
Chad Ingles. Photo: Thomas Nilsson / VG
– What made you decide?
– We need a new generation of leadership, and she has a lot of experience in foreign policy and as a former governor. She is a strong conservative, but without the drama that the others have.
– If she competes against Trump, I think there is a big chance that she can win.
First-time voter: Haven’t decided
Charlotte James (18) from Des Moines will vote for the very first time. She has studied journalism and political science, and says she is very excited.
But who she will vote for, she has not yet decided.
– I think that this evening will help me choose between the two. It will be one of them, she tells VG.
Charlotte James (18). Photo: Thomas Nilsson / VGPublisert:
Published: 11.01.24 at 04:42
Updated: 11.01.24 at 06:17
2024-01-11 03:42:19
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