Republican Iowa debate: Where do Haley and DeSantis stand on key voter issues?
Republican presidential candidates Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis will go head-to-head on the debate stage in Des Moines, Iowa, on Wednesday night, giving both a final chance in the spotlight ahead of the state’s caucuses on Monday.
Front-runner Donald Trump has once again refused to take part in proceedings, opting for a Fox News town hall instead.
Meanwhile Chris Christie, Vivek Ramaswamy and Asa Hutchinson all failed to qualify for the CNN broadcast from Drake University, leaving the stage clear for Ms Haley and Mr DeSantis to try to distinguish themselves.
Both the former US ambassador to the United Nations and the current Florida governor will be seeking to present themselves as the best alternative to Mr Trump and each will be hoping to lay a knockout blow on the other.
After the initial excitement about the prospect of Mr DeSantis running, his campaign has so far proved something of a disappointment, with the candidate being regarded as an oddly awkward presence and failing to carve out significant support from conservative voters – leaving him languishing in the polls.
Ms Haley, by contrast, has risen up the ranks in the polls, but has also shown herself more than capable as a primary cause of the American Civil War.
