There was no debate over who came out on top in Wednesday night’s showdown between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
Of five veteran political observers polled by The Post, four said Haley was the clear winner.
Republican consultant Bill O’Riley said Haley, 51, had a “great night” at Drake University in Des Moines, continuing her “consistently fresh” debate performance.
“He was sharp, informative, and engaging throughout the evening,” she added. “His use of ‘DeSantisLies.com’ is a clever rhetorical tactic by his campaign. Few will go to the website, but the audience hears the message over and over again. He drove home.”
As for DeSantis, 45, O’Riley said the Sunshine State leader “achieves his performance, but he doesn’t have the confidence that Haley has shown.” This debate won’t hurt DeSantis, but it does nothing to put momentum on his side.”
Four out of 5 experts pegged Nikki Haley as the winner of Wednesday night’s debate. AP
The negotiator also took issue with DeSantis’ use of the phrase “pale pastels” to describe Haley’s ideas, a callback to Ronald Reagan’s 1976 Republican National Convention speech.
“It was really weird,” O’Riley said. “It may have sounded great in the preparation session, but it looked strange on Wednesday night. It will be interesting to see if DeSantis stays in the race past Iowa.”
Another Republican consultant, Rob Ryan, said DeSantis “started overheated” by saying in his opening remarks that Haley was running “to continue her donor issue.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley listen to questions during a Republican presidential candidate debate in Des Moines, Iowa, January 10, 2024. REUTERS Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley speaks during the CNN Republican Presidential Primary Debate at the Auditorium Sheslow at Drake University on January 10, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa. Getty Images
“His failure to display any level of humor or charm when going on the offensive and repeatedly calling Haley a liar will remind many women of their ex-husbands,” Ryan predicted. “Haley came out strong and informative. He stands his ground and repels DeSantis’ attack. He is wise to focus more on his achievements.”
O’Brien Murray, who has consulted with Republicans and conservative Democrats, told The Post that if the debate had been a boxing match, it would have ended sooner.
“Luckily the (moderator) bell kept saving DeSantis,” he said, adding that Haley “is ready for the general election, she can win, and DeSantis came out just confirming she’s ready for prime time, and she’s ready to go back to Florida.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley discuss issues as they take part in a Republican presidential candidate debate in Des Moines, Iowa January 10, 2024. REUTERS
DeSantis “smiles when he can strike, otherwise his face looks like he’s about to get hit by a bus,” Murray added. “A deer in headlights looks more confident.”
Watching from the Democratic camp, longtime party consultant Hank Sheinkopf said Haley was a “bulldozer.”
“He tried to paint DeSantis as a liar — and it worked. DeSantis looked delusional,” he said.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has slipped and appears to be out of the running in the race, according to political insiders. Reuters
With former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie pulling out of the race early Wednesday, Sheinkopf said, “Haley came out of the debate with momentum. He came across as the anti-Trump candidate in the race while DeSantis tried to have it both ways.”
The Democrat gave DeSantis support for his remarks about education during the debate, when he bragged about expanding school choice in Florida and all but crippled Miami’s major teachers union.
However, Sheinkopf said, Haley came out even stronger with her statement about qualifications.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis makes his point during the fifth Republican presidential primary debate in Des Moines, Iowa, on January 10, 2024. AFP via Getty Images
“Haley was more honest about Social Security,” he said of her comment that workers now in their 20s may see their full retirement age raised. “He told the truth.”
One caveat to our expert’s results is the absence of former President Donald Trump, who chose to hold a town hall with Fox News rather than face his two closest rivals and CNN moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash.
“Haley looks confident and sounds like a leader, but this is all Twilight Zone,” said Democratic consultant Chris Coffey. “He can’t bring himself to go after Trump, who is leading in every poll. It’s like a battle for second place after the game has been decided.
“They both keep calling each other liars,” Coffey added, “but it feels like they’re lying to themselves about whether they have a chance to win. Trump is the big winner tonight. The American people are the losers.”
Ryan agreed, comparing the CNN showdown to “a battle for who wins the bronze and silver medals in the Olympics.”
“We’ll know the winner when we see who gets more viewers, CNN or Fox.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
