The 2024 presidential election is reaching its final inning, with Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL.) making one last effort to raise his chances for the GOP nomination.
This week, DeSantis urged former President Trump to debate him ahead of the Iowa caucus, which takes place on January 15.
Trump, whose support now tops 50 percent in Iowa, has an overwhelming lead over DeSantis, 16 percent.
“If Donald Trump and Nikki Haley are going to continue to spend millions against me on television with false attacks, they should at least have the courage to meet on the debate stage,” DeSantis wrote on X. “Now that Nikki Haley has been shamed into coming to the CNN debate, it’s time for Donald Trump to follow suit and join us.”
If Donald Trump and Nikki Haley are going to continue to spend millions against me on television with false attacks, they should at least have the courage to meet on the debate stage.
Now that Nikki Haley has been shamed into coming to the CNN debate, it's time for Donald Trump… https://t.co/n1xUJpNIXv
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) December 15, 2023
According to a Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa poll, 51 percent of likely Republican caucusgoers say they would vote for Trump as their first choice for president.
📊 2024 IOWA REPUBLICAN CAUCUS
• Trump — 54% (+37)
• DeSantis — 17%
• Haley — 15%
• Ramaswamy — 7%
• Christie — 4%
• Hutchinson — 1%ISU/Civiqs | 438 LV | 12/8-13 | ±6%https://t.co/2shc73KRL3 pic.twitter.com/xBEARgmDmR
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) December 14, 2023
DeSantis’s request comes as former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC) agreed to participate in CNN’s Hawkeye State debate.
Haley, who has tied with DeSantis regarding Iowa polls, has seen a spike in support between August and October, with polling numbers going from six percent to 16 percent.
Go home, Ron
