Republican debates at risk of flopping with only one contender committing to participate

CNN’s recently announced Iowa debate could be in trouble with only one candidate likely to be eligible committed to participate.

After the Republican National Committee’s fourth and final 2024 primary debate last week, CNN quickly revealed its plans to host a Republican debate in Iowa before the caucuses and one in New Hampshire ahead of its primary.

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It wasn’t until after the network’s announcement that the RNC allowed primary candidates to participate in unsanctioned events, which it said nearly all of the remaining candidates had requested the freedom to do.

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) was quick to make his intention to attend known, writing on X, the social media website formerly called Twitter, that he was “looking forward to debating in Iowa!”

However, former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley hasn’t said she plans to attend. “Since the RNC pulled out of the debates, many new offers have come in,” Haley spokeswoman Olivia Perez-Cubas said in a statement.

Haley does intend to debate in some fashion in Iowa, but it’s unclear whether that will be at the CNN event or through another medium. “We look forward to debating in Iowa and continuing to show voters why Nikki is the best candidate to retire Joe Biden and save our country,” Perez-Cubas said. “That debate should include Donald Trump.”

In a statement, DeSantis press secretary Bryan Griffin touted the governor’s performances in a debate last month against Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and against Republican opponents last week, where he caused “Haley to shrink into the backdrop.”

“After that loss, it is no wonder why Haley has failed to confirm she will join Ron DeSantis on the debate stage in Iowa and New Hampshire next month,” Griffin said. “Ron DeSantis has accepted every major debate and won each of them.”

CNN did not provide comment to the Washington Examiner.

The scheduled Jan. 10 CNN debate at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, is roughly one month away, and there is time for Haley to confirm her attendance.

Another concern for the debate is Vivek Ramaswamy’s and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s qualifications. CNN said candidates have to reach 10% in three different national or Iowa-specific polls that meet the network’s reporting standards. One of the polls has to be of likely Iowa Republican caucusgoers.

Ramaswamy and Christie are polling at 5% and 4%, respectively, in Iowa, according to a new Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa poll. Nationally, the two were both at 4%, according to a recent Emerson College survey.

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According to CNN, the top three finishers in the Iowa caucuses will receive invitations to the subsequent New Hampshire debate.

The campaigns for DeSantis, Ramaswamy, Christie, and former President Donald Trump did not provide comment to the Washington Examiner.