Ron DeSantis offers two supporters a trip to New York or Washington, DC as an alternative to their debate ticket lottery, while the campaign condemns Nikki Haley for refusing to show up for a head-to-head matchup.
As with previous debates, DeSantis' campaign is offering donors the chance to win two tickets to the Iowa debate next month, including plane tickets, hotel rooms and a meet-and-greet.
But this time, in a troll of former U.N. Ambassador Haley, the campaign is offering alternatives if she is “too cowardly to debate Governor DeSantis one-on-one,” according to sweepstakes terms obtained by DailyMail.com.
The Republican National Committee (RNC), after holding four GOP presidential primary debates since August, is handing over the reins and allowing others to organize the pre-primary contests.
CNN will host a debate in Iowa before the January 15 caucuses and in New Hampshire before the January 23 primaries. So far, DeSantis is the only candidate fully committed to the next debate.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' campaign is offering alternatives to debate ticket winners if former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley declines to appear for a one-on-one in Iowa next month
In a troll of one of its top competitors, DeSantis' campaign is offering trips to New York City to visit the United Nations (where Haley worked under Donald Trump), Washington, D.C. to see the vice president's residence (“the new house'). Nikki wants') or a data warehouse if the debate is canceled due to Haley's refusal to show up
Haley has been noncommittal about the prospects of a one-on-one showdown with DeSantis ahead of Iowa, but appears willing to debate whether others will make the stage.
“Since the RNC withdrew from the debates, many new offers have come in,” said Haley spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas. told Axios. “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.”
DeSantis press secretary Bryan Griffin told DailyMail.com in a statement: “In this last Republican primary debate, (DeSantis) made Nikki Haley fade into the background as he reminded voters that she has succumbed to every major battle as a leader: from taxes to protect women and children from China.'
“After that loss, it's no wonder Haley has failed to confirm that she will join Ron DeSantis on the debate stage in Iowa and New Hampshire next month,” Griffin added.
The winner of the DeSantis sweepstakes would receive $1,500 for two plane tickets to Des Moines, Iowa, two nights of hotel accommodations and two tickets to the debate – as well as a meet and greet with Florida Governor DeSantis and Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis.
Should the Jan. 10 debate be canceled due to Haley's refusal to show up, DeSantis' campaign is offering alternative trips that directly target his 2024 competitor.
One option is to go to New York City for a tour of the United Nations, where Haley, as former President Donald Trump's ambassador to the United Nations, worked.
The campaign also suggested that Haley simply wants a shot at becoming Trump's No. 2 in 2024 by offering donors the chance to go to Washington, DC, to tour the vice president's residence.
Under the circumstances, the campaign said, winners could opt for “up to $1,500 round-trip airfare to Washington, DC and hotel accommodations so the winner can see the Naval Observatory – the new home Nikki wants.”
A third option is for the winners to receive plane tickets and accommodation near a data warehouse “so you can see how Nikki will store all your data in the unlikely event she becomes president,” in a troll of her previous proposal that social media companies user data stores data and prevents people from posting anonymously online.
If none of these options float the winner's boat, they can simply choose to postpone their win until the next debate, if there is one.
In the terms and conditions of the lottery, obtained by DailyMail.com, the campaign explains which alternatives the winners can choose. “If the debate does not take place because Nikki Haley is too cowardly to debate Governor DeSantis one-on-one, an alternate prize will be made available to the winner.”
One option is “a round-trip flight of up to $1,500 to Washington, DC and hotel accommodations so the winner can see the Naval Observatory – the new home Nikki wants.” Pictured: the United States Naval Observatory, which serves as the vice president's residence
Haley has not yet said whether she will participate in CNN's debate in Des Moines, Iowa on January 10 – just five days before the caucuses. It's likely that DeSantis and Haley are the only ones eligible
With less than five weeks until the Iowa caucuses, the Republican field has little time to close the gap with distant front-runner Trump, who has refused to debate but maintains a significant lead.
DeSantis, Haley, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie qualified for a debate last week in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
It's likely that DeSantis and Haley will be the only ones to qualify for the next debate, as contestants are expected to poll at least 10 percent in three separate national or Iowa polls endorsed by CNN.