Next Republican debate in doubt as Haley demands Trump get in

Almost immediately after CNN unveiled plans last week for a final debate before the Iowa caucuses, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he was game.

His top rivals — not so much.

With under a month to go before the scheduled Jan. 10 showdown at Drake University in Des Moines, many of the top contenders for the Republican presidential nomination are either not on track to qualify or have yet to commit to take part.

“Debating is the bare minimum that you do as a candidate. It’s certainly not brave to show up to debate,” DeSantis told “Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show” Monday.

“I’ll show up” the 45-year-old told the radio hosts. “We’ll see if the other two show up. But I think you should show up.”

DeSantis, former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, and former President Donald Trump were the only candidates to meet CNN’s stringent 10% polling requirement as of Tuesday afternoon.

Trump has skipped all four Republican National Committee-sponsored debates this cycle, while Haley’s team said it was mulling the options and hoping for the former president to join.

“Since the RNC pulled out of the debates, many new offers have come in,” a spokesperson for the Haley campaign told The Post.

“We look forward to debating in Iowa and continuing to show voters why Nikki is the best candidate to retire Joe Biden and save our country. That debate should include Donald Trump.”

Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung shrugged off the taunts from DeSantis when asked whether the 77-year-old will participate, telling The Post: “Ron DeSantis is eager to be president but that doesn’t mean he’ll get what he wants.”

Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has expressed interest, but the 10% requirement in three national or Iowa polls presents challenges for him.

Meanwhile, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has shunned Iowa and doesn’t appear on pace to qualify either.

DeSantis’ team contends that Haley and Trump are scared of him and highlighted his made-for-TV verbal bout with California Gov. Gavin Newsom earlier this month that garnered higher ratings than the fourth GOP debate last week.

“Ron DeSantis has accepted every major debate and won each of them. He thoroughly bested Gavin Newsom and proved he can beat the Democrats’ nominee in the general election — no matter who that will be,” spokesperson Bryan Griffin told The Post.

“In this last Republican primary debate, he caused Nikki Haley to shrink into the backdrop as he reminded voters that she has caved on every significant fight as a leader,” he added.

“After that loss, it is no wonder why Haley has failed to confirm she will join Ron DeSantis on the debate stage in Iowa and New Hampshire next month.”

Meanwhile, Haley trained her fire on Trump over his debate absence, telling local Iowa station KTIV last week: “I think he’s gonna have to get on a debate stage here in Iowa because you’re fighting for Iowans’ votes.

“You can’t have an election and not appear on a debate stage in front of the people who are going to be voting for you,” she added. “I mean, that’s an arrogant approach.”

The RNC released candidates last week from their pledge to only appear in sanctioned debates following the fourth verbal fight in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Dec. 6.

So far, the debates have not dramatically altered the landscape of the 2024 GOP primary, with Trump still the heavy favorite to clinch the nomination.

One dynamic that has shifted is the rise of Haley, who is running neck-and-neck with DeSantis for second in key early states.

Trump is way ahead of the pack with 60.4% support, followed by DeSantis at 12.5%, and Haley at 12.3% in the latest RealClearPolitics aggregate of national polling.

In Iowa, Trump is averaging 50%, while DeSantis is at 19.7% and Haley at 15.7%, per RCP.

The Hawkeye State will hold its caucuses on Jan. 15, 2024.