Republican presidential candidates Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis will debate in person for the first time on CNN Wednesday night, just five days before Iowans gather to decide who they will support for the 2024 presidential nomination. It's planned.
Here's what you need to know about the showdown.
When and where will the discussion take place?
The Republican primary debate will be held at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, starting at 9pm ET.
How can I watch it?
The debate will be broadcast on CNN, CNN en Español, CNN International and CNN Max. For viewers without a cable login, CNN.comCNN-connected TV and mobile apps, and CNN Max (for Max subscribers).
Subscribers will also be able to watch on-demand replays of the debate starting January 11th. CNN.comthe CNN app, and cable operator platforms.
Who is presiding?
CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will moderate the debate. Tapper, 54, hosts the weekday afternoon show “The Read,” while Bash, 52, fronts the daytime show “Inside Politics.”
Tapper and Bash have also co-hosted CNN's Sunday news program “State of the Union” since 2021.
This will be the third Republican primary debate moderated by Tapper, who oversaw two clashes during the 2016 cycle. Mr. Bash participated as a questioner in three Republican debates during the 2016 cycle, formally moderated by his colleagues Mr. Tapper and Wolf Blitzer.
Which candidates will participate?
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley will be the only candidates on stage to make one final case to voters before the Jan. 15 Iowa caucuses. do.
How did they qualify?
Both Haley and DeSantis met CNN's polling threshold of 10% in three national and/or Iowa polls. One of the polls should be CNN's poll of likely Republican Iowa caucus participants, and the window to qualify closed on January 2nd.
This is the first forum to be held since the Republican National Committee lifted its ban on candidates participating in outside debates and CNN took sole responsibility for developing eligibility criteria.
Where is Mr. Trump?
The former president also met the eligibility criteria but decided to sit out, as he did in all other debates in the 2024 cycle.
Instead, Trump will participate in a Fox News town hall, which is in direct opposition to the CNN debate.
The hour-long event in Des Moines will be broadcast from 9 p.m. ET and will be hosted by Fox News chief political anchor and “Special Report” host Bret Baier and “The Story” host Martha McCallum. Serves as
DeSantis and Haley have called on Trump to join the debate, but Trump continues to avoid supporting Republicans with low approval ratings.
What about other candidates?
Due to low poll numbers, no other Republican candidates were eligible to participate in the Iowa debate.
Biotech mogul Vivek Ramaswami, who is polled in the single digits, will instead appear on a podcast with conservative host Tim Poole.
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is concentrating his campaign in New Hampshire and does not plan to stop in Iowa before the caucuses.
When is the next debate?
Christie is likely to join Haley and DeSantis in two debates in New Hampshire scheduled for January 18 and 21, days before the state's primary on January 23. expensive.
The Jan. 18 debate will be hosted by ABC News at St. Anselm's College in Manchester, and candidates will be required to reach 10% in a poll that meets the network's criteria.
CNN will host the Jan. 21 debate in the same location and mandate similar eligibility criteria, but it will not allow the top three candidates in the Iowa caucuses (possibly Trump, DeSantis, and Haley, in that order). (high) will be invited to a forum in New Hampshire.
