Rival candidates going before voters to debate their ideas and policies may soon be a thing of the past — and apparently, voters are okay with that.
What started with limited debating in the age of Covid has since reached a culmination of candidates simply opting not to participate in debates. Donald Trump set the precedent with little pushback from Republican voters, and now Nikki Haley has gotten on board with refusing to show up.
On that note, ABC News announced Tuesday that it was canceling its New Hampshire GOP primary debate.
“Our intent was to host a debate coming out of the Iowa caucuses, but we always knew that would be contingent on the candidates and the outcome of the race,” a network spokesperson said in a statement. “As a result, while our robust election coverage will continue, ABC News and WMUR-TV will not be moving forward with Thursday’s Republican presidential primary debate in New Hampshire.”
The decision came after Haley tweeted: “We’ve had five great debates in this campaign. Unfortunately, Donald Trump has ducked all of them. He has nowhere left to hide. The next debate I do will either be with Donald Trump or with Joe Biden. I look forward to it.”
We’ve had five great debates in this campaign. Unfortunately, Donald Trump has ducked all of them. He has nowhere left to hide. The next debate I do will either be with Donald Trump or with Joe Biden. I look forward to it.
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) January 16, 2024
Of course, Haley’s performance in several of those debates was anything but “great.” Still, the declaration is part of her strategy to make the Republican primary a race between her and Trump.
“I can safely say tonight, Iowa made this Republican primary a two-person race,” Haley said Monday evening after caucus results came in.
The odd remark came despite Haley finishing THIRD in the Hawkeye State, trailing Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Coincidentally, her actions prevent the head-to-head matchup between Trump and DeSantis coveted by many Republicans.
DeSantis hit Haley hard over the stunt.
“Nikki Haley is afraid to debate because she doesn’t want to answer the tough questions such as how she got rich off Boeing after giving them millions in taxpayer handouts as governor of South Carolina. The reality is that she is not running for the nomination, she’s running to be Trump’s VP.” he tweeted. “I won’t snub New Hampshire voters like both Nikki Haley and Donald Trump, and plan to honor my commitments. I look forward to debating two empty podiums in the Granite State this week.”
Nikki Haley is afraid to debate because she doesn’t want to answer the tough questions such as how she got rich off Boeing after giving them millions in taxpayer handouts as governor of South Carolina.
The reality is that she is not running for the nomination, she’s running to…
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) January 16, 2024
The end result of all the Republican gamesmanship is that they have set the table for President Joe Biden to refuse to debate the eventual party nominee — a major plus for Biden, given the 81-year-old geriatric president’s cognitive challenges.
Here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story, as seen on X:
She finished third.
This is utterly delusional unless she knows something that we do not and Ron Desantis is planning to drop out. https://t.co/OkJUtlC6vK— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) January 16, 2024
3rd place…
— ‘Clear and Present Danger’ Howard Notelling (@BluegrassPundit) January 16, 2024
All your girlboss bravado won’t undo your humiliating third place finish in Iowa.
— Styxhexenhammer666 (@Styx666Official) January 16, 2024
You’re delusional. You came in THIRD in Iowa. Debate. Don’t debate. What’s the difference? You’re not going to be the next #POTUS, and with the crap answers you have to simple questions an alleged “conservative” should be able to answer, you’re not going to be VP either.
— #IAmTheNRA Rosenblum (@StevenRosenblum) January 17, 2024
Donald Trump has ducked all the debates, still beat you by a large margin in Iowa & leading in the polls. Get lost
— Tessa Marki (@tessa_marki) January 16, 2024
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
- ‘WOW!’ CBS goes full Nick Shirley in California - March 20, 2026
- ‘PAPER TIGER!’ Trump calls NATO members ‘cowards’ over Iran - March 20, 2026
- Just like that, San Francisco removes statue of Cesar Chavez - March 20, 2026
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.