Another GOP Debate, 2 More Alternative Realities

Viewers of both CNN and Fox News could turn on their televisions Wednesday night and witness Republican presidential candidates existing in alternative realities.

On CNN, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley debated mostly as if they were the only two candidates in the race ― rather than trailing former President Donald Trump by massive margins in Iowa just days before its caucuses and in national polling.

And over on Fox News, Trump got to exist in a world where his support was universal and his coup attempt was an afterthought, if it was thought of at all.

Throughout the night, DeSantis and Haley rarely deviated from giving answers that sounded like canned lines from their stump speeches. And it appeared that neither candidate was ready to tackle the electorally complicated reality that Trump, barring an act of God, will most likely win Monday’s caucuses based on his 30-percentage-point polling lead.

Trump’s name was barely raised except to occasionally evoke the fact that he had declined an invitation to what was the last Republican presidental debate before voters begin to decide on his possible return to the White House.

“I wish Donald Trump was on this stage. He’s the one I’m running against,” Haley said at one point, a remark that attempted to undercut the person standing beside her on stage and look toward future races on the calendar, which polls forecast will be a tighter contest between Trump and Haley.

Both Haley and DeSantis dodged a question about whether Trump respects the U.S. Constitution, but they went harder on him in other areas. Haley laughed off the “absolute immunity” argument that Trump’s attorneys are floating in a federal appeals court as a trial over the events