In an intriguing turn of events for the upcoming Republican debates, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and former Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have confirmed their participation. Both candidates have achieved the crucial benchmark of reaching at least 10% in three separate polls of Republican caucus goers, paving the way for their inclusion. However, former President Donald Trump, who has also surpassed the 10% threshold, is yet to confirm his participation.
DeSantis, whose campaign has eagerly anticipated these debates, wasted no time in expressing his willingness to participate. His team believes that he performed well in smaller debates, especially his one-on-one discussion with Gavin Newsom, California's governor. With this in mind, they eagerly await the opportunity for DeSantis to directly compare his record against Haley. Notably, DeSantis' campaign has actively tried to goad Trump into participating, openly challenging him to explain his policy decisions and record. However, Trump's campaign has been organizing separate events with Fox News on the same night as the debate, which has fueled speculation about his intentions.
While DeSantis's campaign has taken jabs at Trump behind closed doors, they haven't unleashed their rhetoric on the airwaves. In a new campaign ad set to release today, DeSantis focuses on his accomplishments, citing victories over the teachers union, Anthony Fauci on COVID-19, and even George Soros. This ad reveals DeSantis's strategy of emphasizing his record rather than directly attacking his opponents.
As DeSantis prepares to engage directly with voters in Iowa, the spotlight will undoubtedly be on him and Haley. They have different strategies for capturing the Iowa caucus, with DeSantis going all-in and Haley taking a more dispersed approach. However, both candidates have an opportunity to capture the attention of Iowa voters and convey why they are the best candidate for the state. Notably, independents outnumber registered Republicans in Iowa, which may influence their messaging.
Curiously, while DeSantis and Haley engage in a clash of ads focusing on their respective records on China, they have yet to target the current Republican front-runner, Trump. This strategy may hinder their chances of gaining traction. Attempting to appeal to both MAGA supporters and independents simultaneously appears challenging, as the approaches for each group tend to be incompatible.
Additionally, a recent Washington Post poll highlights the nation's perspective on Trump's role in the January 6th Capitol attack. According to the survey, 46% of respondents believe that Trump's actions disqualify him from the presidency, while 33% believe it doesn't matter. Unsurprisingly, there is a clear partisan divide, with 89% of Democrats expressing disqualification compared to only 80% of Republicans.
These findings underscore the complexity of the political landscape. While a plurality of voters nationally appears to view Trump's role in the Capitol attack as problematic, his strong hold on Republican voters remains intact. As the race progresses, it will be interesting to see how these dynamics evolve and whether any candidate can challenge Trump's dominance in the Republican nomination.
