Last debate before next year’s Iowa caucuses… Trump absent
DeSantis: “Haley is pro-China”… Hailey: “I’m jealous because you support me”
CNN, Voice of America (VOA), etc. reported that the fourth TV debate of Republican presidential candidates was held in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on the 6th (local time) with former U.S. President Donald Trump absent.
This debate was attended by four candidates, including former South Carolina Governor and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, and Haley received intensive attacks from other candidates.
Governor DeSantis criticized Haley for being pro-China, saying she had sent a letter of thanks to the Chinese ambassador to the United States for congratulating her on her success in re-election in the 2014 gubernatorial election.
Ramaswamy criticized Haley’s decision to serve as a member of Boeing’s board of directors, saying the company has major manufacturing facilities in South Carolina, where she served as governor.
Former Ambassador Haley responded by saying, “They (other candidates) want (voters) to support them, but they are jealous because they supported me.”
VOA reported that during the TV debate on this day, the candidates barely mentioned former President Trump, who is leading the Republican presidential primary.
The debate held at the University of Alabama on this day was effectively the last TV debate ahead of the Iowa caucuses scheduled for January next year.
The Republican Party will hold presidential primaries by state until June of next year, starting with the Iowa caucuses on January 15 next year.
Former Ambassador Haley has been on the rise recently, but still lags behind former President Trump by a large gap.
According to the American political media The Hill on the 5th, in a Messenger/Harris poll released that day, when asked whether they would support former President Trump or former Ambassador Haley, 76% of Republican supporters responded that they supported Trump. Haley only received 19% of support. 5% responded that they were not sure.
Meanwhile, Haley received support from Americans for Prosperity (AFP), a political group led by conservative billionaire Charles Koch.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.