In the race to challenge Donald Trump for the GOP nomination, two candidates, Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley, are vying for a breakthrough that could position them as the sole challenger to the former president. With the Iowa caucuses just five days away, the stakes are higher than ever. Both candidates have been sharpening their attacks on each other and Trump, hoping to gain the upper hand in tonight's critical debate.
Haley's campaign released a new digital ad targeting DeSantis, accusing him of losing in line. Meanwhile, DeSantis focused his attacks on Haley, criticizing her priorities and claiming she cares more about the Ukraine border than the US-Mexico border. As the two rivals throw jabs at each other, they are also stepping up their criticism of Trump, who remains the frontrunner in the Republican primary.
Haley has been steadily gaining momentum, particularly in New Hampshire, where she trails Trump by just seven percentage points, according to a recent poll. Trump has responded to Haley's rise by launching more pronounced attacks against her, accusing her of selling him out in the past.
Haley, however, has pledged to keep her criticisms focused on policy rather than getting personal. She wants to move past Trump and focus on the issues at hand. The candidates will have their chance to deliver their closing arguments in tonight's debate, where Iowa voters will closely evaluate their performance against each other and their differences with Trump.
The GOP hardliners in the House of Representatives recently staged a rebellion, taking down a procedural vote to show their opposition to a spending deal. This move has caused some division and questioned how long the conservatives can keep the House in a state of paralysis. The conservatives argue that they are holding out for the right legislation that will cut spending, while the Democrats and the White House are pushing for more spending and side deals.
The slim majority in the House poses a difficult challenge for the GOP hardliners, as they need to negotiate with the Democratic-controlled Senate and a Democratic president who have shown little interest in constraining spending. The hardliners believe that adhering to the bipartisan agreement signed into law, which puts caps on spending, is crucial
