With Vivek Ramaswamy’s departure from the GOP presidential primary, it’s essentially a three-horse race.
Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley remain the lone challengers to Donald Trump.
Trump has refused to participate in the GOP primary debates.
Now, Haley says she refuses to take part in further debates.
Haley said she won’t participate in future debates unless it includes Donald Trump.
“We’ve had five great debates in this campaign. Unfortunately, Donald Trump has ducked all of them. He has nowhere left to hide. The next debate I do will either be with Donald Trump or with Joe Biden. I look forward to it,” Haley said.
We’ve had five great debates in this campaign. Unfortunately, Donald Trump has ducked all of them. He has nowhere left to hide. The next debate I do will either be with Donald Trump or with Joe Biden. I look forward to it.
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) January 16, 2024
That leaves DeSantis by himself on the debate stage.
“Nikki Haley is afraid to debate because she doesn’t want to answer the tough questions such as how she got rich off Boeing after giving them millions in taxpayer handouts as governor of South Carolina. The reality is that she is not running for the nomination, she’s running to be Trump’s VP,” DeSantis said Tuesday.
“I won’t snub New Hampshire voters like both Nikki Haley and Donald Trump, and plan to honor my commitments. I look forward to debating two empty podiums in the Granite State this week,” he added.
Nikki Haley is afraid to debate because she doesn’t want to answer the tough questions such as how she got rich off Boeing after giving them millions in taxpayer handouts as governor of South Carolina.
The reality is that she is not running for the nomination, she’s running to…
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) January 16, 2024
“It’s over man,” Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) commented.
It’s over man
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) January 16, 2024
Other X users commented on the statement:
It's over Ron. You're just looking silly now pic.twitter.com/HpI80mOjLI
— Vince Langman (@LangmanVince) January 16, 2024
Just drop out DeSantis you have no chance.
Vivek did the right thing.
Why won’t you?
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) January 16, 2024
You are insane… There is no chance Trump would pick Nikki and you know it. She burned that bridge as UN Amb. Whoever is advising you to say this insane crap is destroying you politically and as a man. You look angry, weak and dishonest. Whoever your advisors are betrayed you.
— Laurie 🇺🇲 (@LLH713) January 16, 2024
LMAOOOOO
The DeSantis camp are the only ones pushing this nonsense.
Trump will never pick Haley as his VP. He calls her a “globalist” and openly talks about how abysmal she is.
Just give it up Ron. It’s over.
— Clandestine (@WarClandestine) January 16, 2024
The Washington Post reports:
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley is declining to participate in any more debates unless they include former president Donald Trump or President Biden, throwing into question the status of two upcoming Republican primary events in New Hampshire.
The first planned debate, which Manchester television station WMUR and ABC News are hosting at St. Anselm College, is scheduled to take place in just two days. The second debate, to be hosted by CNN at New England College, is scheduled in less than a week.
As the GOP race shifts its focus from Monday’s caucuses in Iowa — which Trump handily won — to next week’s primary in New Hampshire, Haley says she will not participate in the ABC-WMUR debate this week if Trump is not there.