DES MOINES, Iowa — Nikki Haley announced on Tuesday that she would not participate in the upcoming Republican presidential debate unless former President Donald Trump also commits to attending. This leaves Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as the sole confirmed participant for Thursday’s event.
In a statement released while campaigning in New Hampshire, Haley remarked, “We’ve seen five excellent debates in this campaign. Unfortunately, Donald Trump has avoided each one. He can’t evade any longer. My next debate will be either with Donald Trump or Joe Biden, and I eagerly anticipate it.”
This declaration came after the pivotal Iowa caucuses, where Trump achieved a significant lead over Haley and DeSantis. Haley, vying for the second spot against DeSantis in Iowa, shifted her campaign focus more towards challenging Trump, emphasizing a departure from the “chaos” surrounding the GOP frontrunner.
This strategy may stem from the previous debate featuring only Haley and DeSantis, where Haley did not meet expectations, and DeSantis emerged as the runner-up in Iowa.
Haley has been advocating to caucusgoers that her candidacy presents the GOP with the best opportunity to defeat Biden in the November elections, citing surveys that show her leading in a hypothetical general election matchup among Republican candidates.
On the other hand, DeSantis criticized Haley, suggesting she’s avoiding debates to escape tough questions. He accused her of aspiring to be Trump’s vice president and expressed readiness to debate against two unoccupied podiums in New Hampshire.
Trump’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, labeled Haley on Tuesday as a “desperate globalist” favoring higher taxes, open borders, and Chinese dominance over the U.S., claiming her support base comprises mainly Democrats attempting to disrupt the Republican primary.
In the recent GOP debate in Iowa, some supporters felt Haley lost her campaign’s composed stance, frequently mentioning a campaign-run website in a manner that appeared repetitive and overly confrontational.
As the campaign moves to New Hampshire, ahead of its primary, Haley remains optimistic about gaining momentum, citing her support in the state. After the Iowa caucuses, she took an overnight flight to New Hampshire for an event with Governor Chris Sununu.
DeSantis, deviating from the usual campaign route, traveled directly to Haley’s home state of South Carolina, signaling his intent to challenge her vigorously in the upcoming primary there.
Reporters in Iowa have been inquiring when Haley would confirm her participation in Thursday’s debate, organized by ABC and WMUR-TV at Saint Anselm College.
Following his victory in Iowa, Trump traveled to New York for a court appearance linked to his multiple legal issues, before heading to New Hampshire for a rally. His campaign has not responded to queries about his participation in the debate, which he has skipped so far.
ABC News has set a 5 p.m. ET deadline for Trump and Haley to decide on attending the debate.
Chris Ager, the New Hampshire Republican Party Chairman, expressed hope that both Haley and Trump would join DeSantis on stage, stating, “We would love to see them all. People in NH expect a local debate. Candidates who skip do so at their own risk.”
