Nikki Haley demands debate with Donald Trump
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Nikki Haley has demanded to go head-to-head with Donald Trump as she called off a Republican debate in a crucial primary state.
Ms Haley, who according to one poll is in a dead heat with Mr Trump in New Hampshire, said he had “nowhere left to hide” after sitting out the previous five debates.
She added that she would only appear at other hustings if the former president was on stage with her.
ABC News was due to host the debate this week but cancelled it after both candidates refused to commit by the 5pm deadline on Tuesday.
Ron DeSantis, the Florida Governor, had previously agreed to take part and accused his rivals of snubbing New Hampshire voters.
Ms Haley, whose ratings have surged since the Republican debates began in August, said: “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.”
Mr Trump has refused to take part in any of the debates, citing his substantial lead in national opinion polls and status as a former president. The strategy has largely put him above the fray as rivals launch damaging attacks on each other.
Ms Haley, who finished third in Monday’s Iowa caucuses, has concentrated her resources on New Hampshire in the hope of gaining momentum early in the race.
The latest poll showed a seven-point bounce in her support, taking her level with Mr Trump on 40 per cent each.
Mr DeSantis, who is polling in the low single digits in the state, claimed Ms Haley was more interested in self-advancement than becoming the Republican presidential candidate.
“The reality is that she is not running for the nomination, she’s running to be Trump’s VP,” the Florida governor wrote on social media. “I won’t snub New Hampshire voters like both Nikki Haley and Donald Trump, and plan to honour my commitments.”
Members of the Trump campaign, including his son Donald Jnr, have previously poured scorn on the idea that Mr Trump would select the former UN ambassador as a running mate.
ABC News confirmed the debate had been called off soon after the deadline expired on Tuesday.
“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 spokesman said.
Mr Trump won a landslide victory in Iowa this week, winning more votes than all of his rivals combined. He took 98 of the state’s 99 counties, losing the outlier by a single vote.
Mr DeSantis managed to see off a late surge from Ms Haley and nudged her into a close third. However, his momentum could stall as he lags behind the former UN ambassador in New Hampshire and South Carolina.
In a speech after the Iowa caucuses, Ms Haley declared that the contest was now a “two-person race” – a swipe at Mr DeSantis as well as a challenge to Mr Trump.
