DES MOINES, Iowa – ABC News has made the decision to cancel the upcoming Republican presidential debate. This follows the announcement from Nikki Haley that she would not participate unless former President Donald Trump also took part. With Haley’s refusal to attend, Governor Ron DeSantis is now the only candidate committed to the event in New Hampshire on Thursday.
In a statement released while campaigning in New Hampshire, Haley expressed disappointment in Trump’s refusal to participate in any of the previous debates. She stated that the next debate she takes part in will either be with Donald Trump or Joe Biden, and she looks forward to it.
Haley’s decision comes after the Iowa caucuses, in which Trump emerged as the clear winner, leaving Haley and DeSantis in a heated competition for second place. As part of her campaign strategy, Haley has consistently emphasized the need for change from the chaos she claims follows Trump.
The cancellation of the debate may also be attributed to the performance of Haley in the previous debate, where she did not meet expectations and was ultimately beaten by DeSantis for second place in Iowa.
Haley has argued that selecting her as the candidate gives Republicans a better chance of defeating Biden in the general election. She points to survey data which shows her with the highest level of support among GOP candidates in a theoretical matchup.
ABC News spokesperson Van Scott acknowledged that the decision to host a debate after the Iowa caucuses was dependent on the candidates and the outcome. Haley’s withdrawal also raises doubts about another scheduled debate in New Hampshire on Sunday, hosted by CNN.
Responding to Haley’s decision, DeSantis accused her of avoiding the tough questions and claimed that she is running to be Trump’s vice president. He expressed eagerness to debate “two empty podiums” if necessary.
In response to Haley’s previous criticism of Trump, his spokesperson called her a “desperate globalist” who advocates for higher taxes, open borders, and Chinese dominance. The spokesperson also stated that the only people voting for her are Democrats interfering in a Republican primary.
Haley and DeSantis recently engaged in a heated exchange during a GOP debate in Iowa. Some supporters felt that Haley had lost her above-the-fray attitude and resorted to repetitive name-calling.
As the campaign moves to New Hampshire ahead of the primary, Haley remains confident in her commitment to the state, citing survey data that shows her with strong support. DeSantis, however, broke tradition by flying directly to South Carolina, Haley’s home state, where he plans to compete fiercely against her in the primary.
Throughout her time in Iowa, Haley faced questions about her participation in the Thursday debate hosted by ABC and WMUR-TV at Saint Anselm College. Trump, after winning the caucuses, traveled to New York for a legal challenge before heading to New Hampshire for a rally.
Chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party, Chris Ager, expressed the hope that Haley and Trump would join DeSantis on stage for the debate, emphasizing that skipping the event would be a risk for any candidate.
In summary, the cancellation of the Republican presidential debate by ABC News follows Nikki Haley’s refusal to participate unless Donald Trump is involved. The decision casts doubt on another scheduled debate in New Hampshire. Haley argues that her candidacy offers the best chance to defeat Biden, while DeSantis accuses her of avoiding tough questions.