The Rob DeSandis-Nikki Haley “head-on” battle took place in the shadow of an absent Donald Trump less than a week before the primaries began. The Florida governor and the former US ambassador to the UN repeatedly accused each other of lying in a heated debate that mixed politics with insults as the two candidates battled to emerge as the best alternative to Donald Trump just days before the primary. primaries for the nomination of the Republican party.

The former president was once again absent from the debate, so his opponents chose to turn their fire on each other rather than on Trump, who maintains a clear lead according to polls.

“We don’t need another dishonest politician who just tells you what she thinks you want to hear, just to get your votes and then get into a position of power and do whatever her donors want,” DeSandis said.

Haley referred to the website created by her campaign team, which lists dozens of lies by DeSandis, whom she once called “so desperate”.

The two rivals are increasingly attacking each other ahead of Monday’s first primary in Iowa as they run out of time to stop Trump.

According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released yesterday, Wednesday, the former president has the support of 49% of Republicans, well ahead of Haley, who is in second place with 12%.

For the fifth time, Trump was absent from the debate and chose to give an interview to Fox News from Des Moines, Iowa, during which he took questions from an audience of supporters assembled there for the purpose.

The phone battle between DeSandis and Haley came hours after former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, an outspoken critic of Trump, announced he was withdrawing from the race for the Republican nomination. “I’d rather lose by telling the truth than lie to win,” Christie said. When asked if Trump has the necessary “character” to be president, both Haley and DeSandis were reserved in their criticism.

“I agree with a lot of his policies, but his way is not mine,” Haley replied. “I do not desire revenge. I don’t have vendettas, I don’t take things personally”.

DeSandis cited several campaign promises that Trump has failed to keep: forcing Mexico to pay for the wall on the US’s southern border, curbing corruption in Washington and reducing the federal debt. He also blamed the former president for not deporting more immigrants who crossed the US border illegally.

Haley later criticized Trump for calling the January 2021 attack on Capitol Hill by his supporters “a nice day,” while pointing out that the Republican lost the 2020 election.

New Hampshire and Iowa

DeSandis was once considered Trump’s main challenger, but lately his campaign has been plagued by infighting, and Haley has boosted her popularity.

The former ambassador to the UN attacked the governor of Florida by asking him how he plans to govern the country, at a time when he can’t even manage an election campaign.

Two polls released Tuesday show Haley closing in on Trump in the second primary state, New Hampshire, which votes on Jan. 23. DeSandis is in fourth place there, based on various polls, while in Iowa he is battling Haley for second place.

In New Hampshire, independent voters, who may choose Haley over Trump, also have a chance to vote in the Republican primary.

Moreover second place in Iowa is crucial about the two politicians’ efforts to turn the primary race into a one-on-one battle with Trump.