Contrast on Ukraine
In a debate that’s been a mishmash of topics and attacks, the issue of support for Ukraine is one of the clearest contrasts between these two candidates.
DeSantis full throated in his support of Israel, but tepid on Ukraine. Right now in Congress, these two issues are intertwined…and locked in the gridlock of divided government in DC.
Haley’s shaking her head when DeSantis says she was wrong to support a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians. But in her Senate confirmation hearing in 2017, she said she backed a two-state solution.
Trump vows to end sanctuary cities
Trump again vows to “end” sanctuary cities” if he’s elected.
“They’re going to be ended,” he said. He added, without providing any context or evidence, that “many of those people” in the U.S. illegally “come from mental institutions and insane asylums, and many of those people are terrorists.”
Haley’s eye rolls when DeSantis says her Ukraine policy is basically Biden’s will surely be a meme. The question is how many times she can roll her eyes at him before it looks rehearsed.
Trump promises 'the largest deportation effort in the history of our country'
Trump promises “the largest deportation effort in the history of our country” in response to a question about how he would deal with the millions of undocumented immigrants who have entered the country.
Basically, everyone who has asked a question at this Trump town hall is a committed Trump voter. One woman was even a caucus captain for his effort in Iowa.
Just like during his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump is leaning on hard-line immigration rhetoric.
Trump defends growing national debt during his presidency
Trump asked repeatedly about Haley’s and DeSantis’ blasting him for growing the national debt. “You had to inject money” during Covid, he said.
Trump dodges question about economic crash
Trump was asked whether his recent comments that he hoped an economic crash would occur now — and not during a prospective second term — meant he was hoping for a crash.
Trump didn’t directly answer the question, saying instead that he felt “the economy is horrible” before reiterating that “when there’s a crash, I hope it’s going to be during the next 12 months, because I don’t want to be Herbert Hoover.”
DeSantis has long positioned himself as a federalist ideologically — except when states don’t do what he likes. The latest example: He argues that states shouldn’t be allowed to provide benefits to undocumented immigrants.
Somewhere, Christie is banging his head against the wall as this Haley and DeSantis debate devolves into yet another slugfest between candidates with nearly no mention of the front-runner in the GOP primary campaign.
Haley's campaign registered DeSantis site a week ago
Haley’s campaign has for at least a week been sitting on the idea for “DeSantislLies.com,” the website she dropped at the beginning of the debate. According to internet registration records, the website was registered on Jan. 3 and then updated again today, presumably when her campaign made it live for the debate.
At a certain point, the “pale pastels” commentary could start to ring a little sexist. None of the male candidates are being taken to task for their bright red ties’ somehow being akin to their policy stances.
DeSantis’ “pale pastels” reference is a line pulled from his stump speech. He often says that Republicans need to lead with “core convictions” and govern with “bold colors, not pale pastels.” That said, saying it out of context here standing next to Haley does come off differently.