Iowa GOP Debate Takeaways: Haley, DeSantis Pummel Each Other in Two-Person Race

The two-person race to become the sole alternative to Donald Trump in the GOP nomination race grew sharper Wednesday as Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley faced each other alone in a testy debate hours after the departure of the most vocal anti-Trump candidate.

Wednesday night’s face-off at Drake University, broadcast on CNN, started four hours after the race was jolted by the withdrawal of Chris Christie, who gave no indication that he would endorse anyone as he tore into Republicans for failing to mount a stronger challenge to Trump, the former president and GOP nomination front-runner.