DeSantis, Haley and Ramaswamy will meet in Iowa for a ‘family discussion’ on politics

DeSantis, Haley, and Ramaswamy are scheduled to convene in Iowa for what is being characterized by an influential Christian organization as a cordial exchange of ideas regarding politics and their respective worldviews. This “family discussion” in Des Moines, set for Friday, will bring together three Republican candidates: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Notably, former President Donald Trump has been invited but is not expected to attend.

As the race for the Republican alternative to Trump intensifies, the field of contenders is narrowing, with less than two months remaining before the Iowa caucuses mark the beginning of the GOP nominating process. This heightened urgency has led to increased clashes among the candidates, often taking personal turns.

This week, both DeSantis and Ramaswamy criticized Haley for her statement advocating for social media companies to ban anonymous online posting. DeSantis characterized her proposal as “dangerous and unconstitutional” in a social media post, while Ramaswamy referred to it as “disgusting.” Notably, Haley and Ramaswamy have engaged in frequent disputes during recent candidate debates, with Haley even referring to Ramaswamy as “scum” after he criticized her daughter’s use of TikTok, a video-sharing app that many Republicans seek to ban due to its connections with China.

The rivalry between DeSantis and Haley is also intensifying, as both vie for major donors and debate their respective abilities to challenge Trump.

The Family Forum, moderated by Bob Vander Plaats, President, and CEO of the influential Family Leader, aims to provide Iowans with an opportunity to gain insight into the candidates’ values rather than just their policy plans. It’s important to note that this event is not a debate, as clarified by the Family Leader, and candidates have been reminded by the Republican National Committee’s counsel’s office not to participate in unsanctioned debates. Attending the Family Leader’s forum, however, has been agreed upon after discussions between DeSantis and Vander Plaats.

Trump, who is currently the dominant front-runner for the 2024 Republican nomination, has opted to skip all three primary debates thus far, opting instead for large rallies to connect with his supporters, as he is set to do in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Saturday.

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