DeSantis prepares set of last-ditch Haley jabs; GOP debate aims for lowa decision

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has blanketed Iowa at the expense of all other early-voting states in a Hail Mary bid to keep his campaign alive against prohibitive front-runner and former President Donald Trump.

Now he faces a surging Nikki Haley, who could steal second place from him in the Iowa caucuses on Monday and potentially force him out of the race.

The two candidates are statistically tied. Polling averages show Ms. Haley with 16.3% of the vote, a slight edge over Mr. DeSantis’ 16%. Ms. Haley, a former governor of South Carolina and Mr. Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations, has undoubtedly been helped by a late spending binge on advertising in Iowa.

In the Republican presidential debate Wednesday, Mr. DeSantis is poised to attack Ms. Haley on a handful of issues that he hopes will diminish her in the eyes of Iowa voters and help him remain the leading alternative to Mr. Trump.

These are Mr. DeSantis’ expected five lines of attack.