DeSantis is the only one willing to attend the debate… CNN: “We will look for other opportunities”
While former President Donald Trump won a landslide victory in Iowa, the first Republican primary in the 2024 presidential election, TV debates between candidates have been canceled one after another.
According to American media such as the Washington Post (WP) on the 17th (local time), CNN, following ABC, also canceled its TV debate schedule ahead of the Republican primary to be held in New Hampshire next week.
CNN was originally scheduled to broadcast the Republican TV debate on the 21st. However, former President Donald Trump has so far refused to have open discussions with other runners on the grounds that he is the unrivaled first-place runner.
In addition, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, who came in third place in the Iowa primary, recently set the tone by not participating in the TV debate. Former Ambassador Haley is of the position that if there is a future debate, former President Trump should attend.
The current Republican presidential primary structure is such that former President Trump has an absolute majority lead, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former Ambassador Haley are fighting for second place. This structure was also revealed in Iowa.
In this situation, not only former President Trump but also former Ambassador Haley did not participate in the debate, and it is said that Governor DeSantis was the only major candidate in the Republican presidential primary who decided to attend the CNN TV debate.
“We will continue to explore other opportunities during the 2024 election campaign,” CNN said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the New Hampshire primary scheduled for the 23rd will be held in a primary format in which independent voters can also participate, unlike the Iowa primary, which is held in a caucus format.
To this extent, interest is focused not only on the direction of die-hard Republican voters but also on the direction of moderate voters who view the Republican Party. Former Ambassador Haley, who has already received the support of Governor Chris Sununu, is aiming for a rebound based on centrist votes in New Hampshire.
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.