ABC News has made the decision to cancel the upcoming Republican presidential debate, following Nikki Haley’s statement that she would only participate if former President Donald Trump also takes part. With this news, Gov. Ron DeSantis has emerged as the sole candidate committed to the event in New Hampshire, scheduled for Thursday.
Haley released a statement expressing that she will either debate Trump or Joe Biden, pointing out that Trump has avoided all debates thus far. Some speculate that Haley’s decision may have been influenced by her underwhelming performance in the last debate, where she failed to meet expectations. Ultimately, DeSantis surpassed her for second place in Iowa, making him a formidable opponent.
This development also casts doubt on another New Hampshire debate, which was slated to take place on Sunday and was set to be aired on CNN. The cancellation of the ABC News debate has sparked concerns regarding the viability of this upcoming event.
In response, DeSantis accused Haley of shying away from a debate, and even labeled her as “running to be Trump’s VP.” On the other hand, Trump’s spokesperson dismissed Haley as a “desperate globalist,” and alleged that she is only supported by Democrats who are attempting to interfere in the Republican primary.
Haley had projected confidence in her prospects in New Hampshire. However, DeSantis broke with tradition by flying to Haley’s home state of South Carolina to send a strong message that he plans to compete against her in the primary there. This unexpected move by DeSantis has put Haley’s campaign on edge.
The New Hampshire Republican Party has extended invitations to both Haley and Trump for the debate and has emphasized that skipping the event comes with inherent risks. However, as of now, only DeSantis has confirmed his participation, leaving the fate of the New Hampshire debate uncertain.
As the political landscape continues to shift, the GOP primary race is becoming increasingly heated. With key players, such as Haley and DeSantis, clashing and making bold statements, it remains to be seen how this will impact the future of the Republican Party and the 2024 presidential race.
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