Haley a target at fourth US Republican presidential debate
By Gram Slattery
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama (Reuters) -Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley was the subject of repeated attacks during the opening moments of Wednesday's Republican presidential debate, as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis sought to blunt her momentum just weeks before the party's first nominating contest in Iowa.
The two rivals are vying to emerge as the chief alternative to the absent former President Donald Trump, who has maintained a commanding lead in opinion polls ahead of Iowa's Jan. 15 contest.
«She caves anytime the left comes after her, anytime the media comes after her,» DeSantis said of Haley during the first answer of the evening, as he sought to explain why voters should back him despite Trump's dominant position.
DeSantis boasted about legislation he has passed in Florida banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth and accused Haley of opposing the law, an assertion Haley denied.
«He continues to lie about my record,» she said.
Former tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie also took the debate stage in Tuscaloosa, Alabama — but all eyes were on DeSantis and Haley as the narrowing Republican field runs short on time to derail Trump's march to the 2024 nomination.
As with the first three debates, the former president — leading by more than 40 percentage points in most opinion polls — skipped Wednesday's event, instead attending a fundraiser in his home state of Florida.
Trump's absence deprived his rivals of an opportunity to confront him face to face and again sent the message that he deems his challengers unworthy of his attention.
DeSantis holds a small advantage over Haley in national polls. But Haley has been closing the gap, and has a
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