FKA twigs on 'double standards' after Calvin Klein ad banned in UK

A Calvin Klein ad featuring FKA twigs has been banned in the United Kingdom after it allegedly presented the singer "as a stereotypical sexual object."

The U.K.'s Advertising Standards Authority announced its decision on Wednesday after receiving complaints that the supposed over-sexualized ad was "offensive and irresponsible" because it "objectified women."

FKA twigs hit back at U.K. officials in a lengthy post on Instagram, writing, "I do not see the ‘stereotypical sexual object’ that they have labelled (sic) me. i see a beautiful strong woman of colour whose incredible body has overcome more pain than you can imagine.

"in light of reviewing other campaigns past and current of this nature, i can’t help but feel there are some double standards here. so to be clear… i am proud of my physicality and hold the art i create with my vessel to the standards of women like josephine baker, eartha kitt and grace jones who broke down barriers of what it looks like to be empowered and harness a unique embodied sensuality," she continued, adding that the campaign was "exactly how i wanted."

The poster, originally released in 2023, showed the 35-year-old singer wearing a denim shirt with the side of her buttocks and part of her breast exposed.

USA TODAY has reached out to Calvin Klein and representatives for FKA twigs for comment.

The Advertising Standards Authority also reviewed Calvin Klein posters featuring Kendall Jenner, one of which showed the model topless with her hands across her chest. Another showed Jenner lying on her back and pulling down a pair of jeans, showing her underwear.

Calvin Klein responds to UK bans of FKA twigs and Kendall Jenner campaigns

Calvin Klein told the ASA that its ads did not overly sexualize FKA twigs or Jenner and "contained a progressive and enlightened message." The company also argued that a "degree of nudity should be expected" in advertising for clothing and pointed to the fact that men have also been featured in the campaign, suggesting the aim is not to objectify women.

Furthermore, "all conventionally sensitive body areas were fully covered in the ads," Calvin Klein said, according to the ASA.

However, the regulator concluded that the composition in the FKA twigs ad "placed viewers' focus on the model’s body rather than on the clothing being advertised," and centered on her physical features in a way that presented her as a "sexual object," making the ad "irresponsible."

But the ASA said both of the Jenner ads are "unlikely to be seen as irresponsible or cause serious or widespread (offense) on the basis of objectification." The first did not portray her as a sexual object, while the level of nudity in the second "was not beyond that which people would expect for a lingerie ad."

FKA twigson moving forward following Shia LaBeouf abuse lawsuit: 'I have my life back'

Calvin Klein has been told to ensure its future ads don't "irresponsibly objectify women" and are "targeted appropriately," according to the ASA.

FKA twigs said on Instagram in March 2023 that it was an honor "to be the new face of Calvin Klein," calling her campaign "something that I believe reflects me as a woman and artist."

She added: "These pictures and visuals are a physical representation to remind myself that being strong to the best of one’s personal ability will never go out of fashion."

This ban comes after Calvin Klein recently unveiled a new campaign featuring "The Bear" star Jeremy Allen White stripping down to white boxer briefs.

Contributing: Naledi Ushe

FKA Twigs'stood up' for herself with Shia LaBeouf abuse allegations: 'What happened to me wasn't right'


Go behind the scenes of CNN's Republican debate in Des Moines

Running the show and the lead-up to a CNN political debate is a lot like conducting an orchestra.

Instead of skilled musicians performing woodwind or stringed instruments, there are expert camera operators and lighting crews. Instead of Carnegie Hall, it’s Drake University's Sheslow Auditorium.

And at 8 p.m. Wednesday, the show starts — a CNN Republican presidential primary debate held at the Des Moines university. The auditorium will be transformed into a TV-ready debate stage poised to host Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley just five days before the Iowa Caucuses.

Iowa GOP debate: What time is debate, how to watch tonight

CNN will host a Republican presidential primary debate in Iowa tonight, giving caucusgoers a chance to hear what candidates have to offer in the final days leading up to the first-in-the-nation Iowa Caucuses.

When is the Iowa debate?

Jan. 10 at 8 p.m. Iowa time.

Where will the Iowa debate be?

The debate will take place at Drake University's historic Sheslow Auditorium, 2507 University Ave., in Des Moines.

“We are honored to continue playing a central role in the democratic process at Drake University,” Drake University President Marty Martin said in a news release. “Des Moines and Drake have long been a hub for political and civic engagement on the national stage, and we are excited to carry on that tradition leading into the 2024 election, inviting our students, our community, and thousands of visitors to engage in presidential politics.”

Will there be road closures for the debate?

No, there will not be any road closures due to the debate.

What GOP presidential candidates have committed to the Iowa debate?

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley are the only two Republican presidential candidates who will appear at the debate, CNN announced.

Former President Donald Trump qualified, but instead will appear on a Fox News town hall filmed in Des Moines.

While in Iowa after the fourth Republican presidential debate, DeSantis said he wants Trump to appear at the debate in Des Moines. In a statement, Haley also called on Trump to join. Trump has suggested he is not interested in attending debates in Iowa and New Hampshire, claiming he has benefited from his decisions to skip the first four.

More:The fight for 2nd place takes center stage at Republican debate in Iowa: What we're watching

Where will Donald Trump be during the Iowa debate?

Trump will appear on a Fox News Channel town hall from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. the same day as the debate. Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum will moderate the town hall that will "focus on leading issues facing voters ahead of the Iowa Caucus," according to the network.

Who qualifies for the Iowa debate?

To qualify, candidates must have received at least 10% support in three separate polls that met CNN’s standards for reporting. One of the three qualifying polls must be an approved poll of Iowa likely Republican caucusgoers, like the Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll.

Candidates must also:

Fulfill the requirements outlined in Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution of the United States.

File a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission.

Agree to accept the rules and format of the debate.

The qualifying window for the Iowa debate closed on Jan. 2. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Texas pastor Ryan Binkley did not qualify.

The Republican National Committee has announced that there will be no party-sponsored debates in January, leaving GOP candidates free to participate in any debates or forums they wish to partake in.

More:Everything you need to know about the Iowa caucuses ahead of the 2024 presidential race

Who is moderating?

CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash are moderating the Iowa debate.

How can I get tickets to the Iowa debate at Drake?

The debate will be a closed audience and tickets will not be available for purchase.

How can I watch the Iowa debate?

The debate will air on CNN, CNN Max, CNN International and CNN en Español. It also will be available on demand beginning Jan. 11.

Kyle Werner is a reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@dmreg.com.

When are 2024 debates? Here's when presidential hopefuls will ...

WASHINGTON — While the year may be coming to an end, Republican presidential hopefuls are only ramping up their 2024 campaigns as they try to clinch the GOP frontrunner spot from former President Donald Trump.

Media outlets including CNN and ABC will be holding debates next month around the New Hampshire primary and Iowa caucus − the first two key contests in the 2024 race for the White House.

But presidential primary debates aren't the only showdowns voters will be watching next year.

The nonpartisan Committee on Presidential Debates last month announced the sites and dates for the vice presidential and presidential debates in the general election, where the Republican and Democratic nominees will make their pitches to American voters.

Here’s a look at the full calendar of political events next year.

Presidential primary debates

Next month, CNN will host two debates among Republican presidential candidates. The first event is scheduled for a week before the Iowa caucus on Jan. 15, and the second is set for two days before the New Hampshire primary on Jan. 23. Here are the dates and locations:

Jan. 10 : Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, at 9 p.m. ET

: Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, at 9 p.m. ET Jan 21: New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire. Timing to be announced.

To qualify for the Iowa debate, candidates must receive at least 10% support in three separate national polls of Republican primary voters or Iowa polls of Republican caucusgoers that meet CNN’s standards.

Likewise, to qualify for the New Hampshire debate, candidates must receive at least 10% in three separate national polls or New Hampshire polls of Republican primary voters.

ABC News and WMUR-TV, in coordination with the New Hampshire Republican State Committee, will also host a debate on Jan. 18 at Saint Anselm College in Goffstown, New Hampshire, just days after the Iowa caucus. It will take place at 9 p.m. ET.

Candidates who finish in the top three spots at the Iowa caucuses will receive invites to participate, according to a press release. They must also receive at least 10% in two national polls or two New Hampshire polls of Republican primary voters.

Presidential and vice presidential debates

Though Republicans and Democrats across the country haven't officially chosen their 2024 nominees, next year's presidential and vice presidential debates are already scheduled. Here are the dates and locations of the events, according to the Committee on Presidential Debates:

Sept. 16 : First presidential debate at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas

: First presidential debate at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas Sept. 25: Vice presidential debate at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania

Vice presidential debate at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania Oct. 1: Second presidential debate at Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia

Second presidential debate at Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia Oct. 9: Third presidential debate at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City

Virginia State University will be the first historically Black college or university to host a debate in a presidential election. All debates will start at 9 p.m. ET and will run for 90 minutes without commercials, according to a press release from the committee.

What time is the fourth Republican debate? Start time, channel ...

The fourth GOP debate of the 2024 presidential race is Wednesday night.

Only four candidates, including biotech entrepreneur and Cincinnati native Vivek Ramaswamy, will take the debate stage in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

To qualify for Wednesday's debate, candidates must have obtained a minimum of 80,000 unique donors and signed the “Beat Biden” pledge, agreeing to support the eventual Republican 2024 nominee. Additionally, GOP candidates must have gained at least 6% in two national polls or 6% in one national poll and one poll from two separate early-voting states recognized by the Republican National Committee.

Are you planning to watch the fourth GOP debate on Wednesday night? Here's everything you need to know.

What time is the Republican debate?

The fourth GOP presidential debate will take place from 8 to 10 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 6.

Where is the Republican debate?

The upcoming GOP debate will be held at the University of Alabama's Frank Moody Music Building in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

What channel is the Republican debate on?

Viewers can watch and stream the fourth Republican debate on the NewsNation channel, app and website, per the New York Times. Pre- and post-coverage by former CNN host Chris Cuomo will take place two hours before and after the debate.

The debate will also air on the CW in the Eastern and Central time zones, and on a delay in the Mountain and Pacific time zones. The GOP matchup will air on the CW from 7 to 9 p.m. Mountain time and 8 to 10 p.m. Pacific time.

A live stream of the debate will also be broadcast on Rumble.

How to listen to the Republican debate

SiriusXM’s Triumph channel will air the fourth GOP debate on Wednesday night.

Who is moderating the Republican debate?

The RNC announced NewsNation, "The Megyn Kelly Show," the Washington Free Beacon and Rumble as its partners for the fourth debate.

The moderators for the debate are Megyn Kelly, NewsNation anchor Elizabeth Vargas and Eliana Johnson, editor-in-chief of the Washington Free Beacon.

Which Republicans qualify for the fourth GOP debate?

The Republican National Committee announced Monday that the following candidates have qualified for the fourth GOP debate:

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

Tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie

But what about the other candidates from the previous debates? South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott dropped out of the presidential race shortly after the third GOP debate last month. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who participated in the first two GOP debates, suspended his campaign Monday.

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who only qualified for the first event, will not make the stage either.

Former Vice President Mike Pence also dropped out of the Republican primary in October after qualifying for the first two debates, the AP reports.

Will Donald Trump be at the GOP debate?

Former President Donald Trump will not appear in Wednesday's GOP presidential primary debate. Trump also skipped the previous three debates.

In the past, Trump has cited his strong lead in national and state polls as reason enough for him not to participate in the debates. The former president has also said he wouldn’t sign the “Beat Biden” pledge to support any GOP nominee that isn't him.

Current GOP polls

As of Tuesday, Dec. 4, Trump leads with 58.3% support, according to polling and analysis website FiveThirtyEight. DeSantis follows with 13%, Haley with 10.4% and Ramaswamy with 5.3%.

Where does Vivek Ramaswamy stand on the issues?

Ramaswamy entered the presidential race earlier this year promising to out-Trump former President Donald Trump. He has since expressed his support for the state-level six-week abortion ban and the abolition of several federal agencies like the Department of Education, the FBI and the IRS.

Click here to read more about Ramaswamy's platform.

When is the 2024 presidential election?

The United States will hold its 60th presidential election on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. The winner of the 2024 presidential election will be sworn into office on January 20, 2025.

When is the next GOP debate?

According to the New York Post, future debates have yet to be announced. However, the national news site reports that at least one more debate will occur before the Iowa caucus on Monday, Jan. 15, and the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday, Jan. 23.

Who will watch the GOP Iowa presidential debate?

David Paleologos

USA TODAY

According to the most recent Suffolk University/USA TODAY national survey, a majority of registered voters don’t plan to watch the upcoming CNN Republican debate next week at Drake University. The groups that do plan to tune in suggest the debate will play to key voters in the November general election instead of the Republican primaries and caucuses.

Only three candidates qualify for this debate: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and former President Donald Trump. With Trump a presumptive no-show, 51% of Republicans don’t plan to watch, largely driven by the 54% of Trump voters who won’t tune in. And when you look at Democrats and independents, at least 52% won’t watch either. In fact, a majority of voters across gender, region, age, educational level and income categories don’t plan to tune in.

So, is the debate a complete waste of time?

Our poll says no because key voting blocs in the November election will tune in. Trump’s absence may give DeSantis and Haley the ability to shape the conversation for the November election when they have otherwise been seemingly powerless to move the national needle in the lead-up to the GOP primaries and caucuses. Does Trump really want to take that risk by not showing up? In 2016, his continual presence on the primary debate stages successfully shaped the conversation around immigration and “draining the swamp,” which catalyzed support not only in the early primaries but in November as well.

According to the poll, here are some demographics that are more likely to watch the debate and could matter in November.

Independent women: 50% plan to watch

In the 2022 midterms, independent women broke away from conservative-leaning independent men, preventing a red wave, according to our national polling in late October, which asked: “If the elections for Congress were held today, who would you vote for, the Democratic or Republican candidate?”

Independent men chose Republicans 57%-35%, while independent women chose Democrats 51%-40%. By supporting Democratic nominees against Trump-endorsed U.S. Senate candidates, independent women demonstrated that their top concern was the overturning of Roe v. Wade. In the October 2022 poll, independent women ranked abortion as their number one issue at 29%, more than double the 12% of independent men. In the poll, independent women favor Trump over President Joe Biden 33%-30%, but only because a whopping 27% say they will vote for a third-party candidate.

DeSantis and Haley must navigate and articulate their positions clearly and speak to independent women, many of whom may be inclined to vote for Biden − or a third-party option.

Those who want a split Congress: 59% plan to watch

Among those who want a Democratic or Republican sweep to control both branches, there is less interest in watching the debate.

However, by a 59%-33% margin, voters looking for a split Congress are tuning in: Among those who would like to see a Democratic Senate and a Republican House, interest in the debate broke 64%-28%, and among those who would like to see a Republican Senate and a Democratic House, debate interest was 54%-40%.

This provides an opening for a DeSantis-Haley debate conversation about bipartisanship.

What is their ideal scenario, given the Speaker of the House debacles of 2023, the House impeachment inquiry into Biden (opposed in our poll, 49%-43%) and the threat of a government shutdown in the coming weeks?

Republicans who don’t have high enthusiasm for Trump: 53% plan to watch

The lower the enthusiasm for Trump, the higher the intention to watch. Among those Republicans least enthusiastic for Trump (rating him 3 or less on a scale of 10), 58% plan to watch; among those expressing some enthusiasm (4-7 out of 10), 48% will watch. Republicans with high enthusiasm for Trump will skip the debate, 53%-42%. DeSantis and Haley will have the unique power to speak directly to these Republicans who are sour on Trump. Will they urge these viewers to vote for Trump if he is the GOP nominee or to look elsewhere on the ballot?

There is certainly some overlap between the categories listed above, and Nikki Haley polls remarkably well among Republicans who have low enthusiasm (1-3) for Trump: 50% of these voters prefer her, compared to former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie at 19% and DeSantis at 16%, according to the poll. Now, she needs to figure out how to persuade those Christie and DeSantis voters to rally behind her. Otherwise, all three candidates will need to craft an exit strategy, and the upcoming Haley/DeSantis debate may be the first official debate platform for the Republican nomination in 2028.

What time is the GOP debate tonight? How to watch Haley vs ...

Republican presidential candidates will have one last chance to clash on live TV before the Jan. 15 Iowa caucuses.

Only three candidates qualified on time for the fifth GOP primary debate on Wednesday at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, including GOP frontrunner Donald Trump. The former president has skipped the last four broadcasts and will continue the no-show streak, citing a huge lead in polls.

CNN Anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will moderate the broadcast. The network is also set to host another GOP debate in New Hampshire.

But Wednesday's broadcast will be the final opportunity for candidates to win over national viewers before the Jan. 15 caucuses, where Republican voters will gather in a series of local meetings throughout Iowa and decide who should represent the party on the presidential ballot.

Here is what to know about Wednesday's debate.

What channel is the republican debate on tonight

The fifth GOP presidential primary debate will air live on CNN on Jan. 10 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. Viewers can also watch the broadcast on CNN International and CNN en Español, or stream it on Max (formerly HBO Max).

TV subscribers can also watch via CNN.com and the CNN mobile apps. It was also be available the next day On Demand via CNN.com, CNN apps as well as Cable Operator Platforms.

Who is in the next Republican debate

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley will be the only candidates at Wednesday's presidential primary debate, according to CNN.

The GOP runner-ups qualified before the window closed on Jan. 2 along with Trump. The network hosted hour-long townhalls for DeSantis and Haley in Iowa with DeSantis on Thursday.

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie did not qualify in time for the debate after appearing at the previous four.

What were the qualifications?

To qualify for the Iowa GOP debate, candidates had to receive at least 10% in three different national and/or Iowa polls of primary voters or Republican caucus attendees. The network required one of those polls to be an approved CNN poll of likely Republican caucus-goers.

Trump's slow 2024 start worries allies | CNN Politics

CNN —

Back in 2015, Donald Trump’s first campaign rally in Iowa as a contender for the Republican presidential nomination came just 10 hours after he declared his candidacy in New York. The following day, he was across the country in New Hampshire, with plans to visit South Carolina before the end of his first week.

But seven years later – and nearly three weeks into his 2024 presidential campaign – Trump has yet to leave his home state or hold a public campaign event in an early voting state.

Trump’s disengaged posture has baffled former and current allies, many of whom experienced firsthand the frenetic pace of his two previous White House bids, and who now say he’s missed the window to make a splash with his 2024 rollout. The uninspiring launch of his supposed political comeback comes as his campaign appears to be operating on auto pilot, with few signs of momentum or enthusiastic support from donors or party heavyweights.

“I don’t know why he rushed this. It doesn’t make sense,” one Trump adviser said of his lackluster announcement speech last month, which came one week after Republicans delivered an underwhelming performance in the midterm elections and as the rest of the party turned its attention to the Senate runoff contest in Georgia.

Trump’s announcement was roundly panned for lacking zest, so much so that some audience members attempted an early exit, and his recent hosting of Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes and embattled rapper Kanye “Ye” West at Mar-a-Lago only further galvanized GOP opposition against him. A person familiar with the matter said Trump spent the Sunday after Thanksgiving asking people around him if they thought the backlash to his private dinner with Ye and Fuentes was truly damaging.

“So far, he has gone down from his bedroom, made an announcement, gone back up to his bedroom and hasn’t been seen since except to have dinner with a White supremacist,” said a 2020 Trump campaign adviser.

“It’s 1000% a ho-hum campaign,” the adviser added.

The only other notable event to occur since Trump announced he was running again was both unintended and dreaded for weeks by the former president’s attorneys. Just three days after Trump launched his campaign, Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel to oversee two ongoing criminal investigations into the 45th president and his associates.

While some Republicans long speculated that Trump entered the presidential race early to inoculate himself from further legal peril, his candidate status instead appeared to serve as the catalyst for Garland’s announcement.

A Trump campaign spokesman said the former president has held “multiple events since he announced,” noting his remote appearance at the annual Republican Jewish Coalition summit last month, video remarks to a conference for conservative activists in Mexico, a Patriots Freedom Fund event, his remarks at two separate political events held at Mar-a-Lago, and a tele-rally Monday night for Georgia Republican Senate hopeful Herschel Walker. None of these events were billed as campaign events.

Trump’s current campaign trajectory has left both allies and Republican opponents wondering if he will flip a switch in 2023 or fail to adapt to a different political environment. Even as the GOP’s undisputed 2024 frontrunner, some of his closest allies say he simply cannot afford to take his position for granted at a moment when influential Republicans appear exceedingly interested in dislodging him from his influential perch.

“If Trump was working in a lush jungle environment in 2016, he is in a desert today,” said a Republican close to the former president. “The political landscape has totally changed. He was irresistible because no one understood him but now everybody knows how to deal with him, so the question is, can he recalibrate?”

Some sources said Trump’s first-out-of-the-gate strategy, which was said to be partly aimed at clearing the GOP primary field, already looks poised to fail.

“You know what it’s done to dissuade people from getting in? Nothing. He hasn’t hired anyone. He hasn’t been to the early states,” said the 2020 campaign adviser.

Trump’s lack of impact was on display a week after his announcement, as other 2024 Republican hopefuls took the stage in Las Vegas for the annual RJC summit. Some attacked the former President, while others, once allies of Trump, indicated they were ready to take him on in 2024.

Just days before the event, Trump’s team announced plans for him to address the group remotely. Two people familiar with the matter said his virtual address was organized by aides at the last minute after he grew agitated upon realizing the event was a cattle call for Republican presidential prospects and he was not on its original list of speakers. The Trump campaign spokesman disputed this account, saying Trump’s remote remarks were planned “many weeks prior to the event.”

Other sources who for months harbored concerns that Trump wasn’t as enthusiastic about running as he was letting on in public appearances now say his inactivity has increased their worry. Apart from a planned fundraising appearance for a classical education group in Naples last weekend, the former president has yet to announce any events before the end of the year. A person familiar with the matter said Trump’s team is toying with a pre-Christmas event of some kind, though his campaign has not yet finalized any travel. In a statement last week panning a move by Democratic officials to put South Carolina first on the party’s primary calendar, Trump appeared to tease a visit to Iowa, currently the first state to cast votes in both parties’ presidential nominating contests, “in the very near future.”

“I can’t wait to be back in Iowa,” he said.

Campaign is ‘taking a breather’

Inside Trump’s campaign, sources said his current approach is entirely intentional, dismissing concerns that he has forfeited the spotlight at a critical time but acknowledging that Trump is currently working with a bare-bones staff.

The campaign “is doing exactly what everyone always accuses [them] of not doing – taking a breather, planning and forming a strategy for the next two years,” said one source familiar with Trump’s operation said.

Senior staff are holed up working on a plan,” this person added, noting that Trump’s campaign travel is expected to begin early in the new year, right as possible rivals who have taken the holidays to mull their own political futures may start launching their own campaigns or exploratory committees.

And while some Trump allies have been surprised by his lack of a hiring spree right out of the gate, his campaign has been content to maintain a lean operation while he’s the only candidate in the field. The former president is not expected to tap a formal campaign manager, instead elevating three trusted advisers – Susie Wiles, Brian Jack and Chris LaCivita – to senior roles, but allies said he will likely need to build out his on-the-ground staff in early voting states in the months to come, as well as a robust communications operation if he finds himself in a competitive primary.

While those hires don’t need to happen immediately, people close to Trump said his early entry into the 2024 race does raise questions about how he will sustain campaign-related costs over a longer period than other candidates who declare later, including chief potential rival Ron DeSantis. CNN has previously reported that the Florida governor, should he decide to take on Trump, would announce next May or June, after the conclusion of his state’s legislative session and just months before the Republican party could host its first primary debate, according to a party official involved in debate planning.

“The question a lot of us have is can Trump sustain a campaign for two years. That’s the real difficulty here. The pacing we’re seeing right now is designed to do that,” said a person close to Trump.

In addition to planning rallies and events and building momentum around the former President, the campaign staff is also looking at how to best insulate Trump after many were caught off guard learning of Trump’s dinner with Fuentes and West. The event, and the days of fallout and negative coverage, has expedited some of the campaign’s long-term plans, including ensuring a senior campaign staffer is always with the former president, a source familiar with the campaign said.

Trump’s White House staff worked with resort staff during his presidency in a similar fashion to protect Trump from potentially “unsavory” guests of members, the source said. Those close to Trump blamed “low level staffers” for allowing Fuentes to slip into the resort without any flags being raised.

GOP debate replay: Haley, DeSantis and Republicans turn on each ...

Four Republican presidential candidates faced off Wednesday in the fourth GOP primary debate, with campaign rivalries heating up on stage in Alabama.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy clashed over America's economy, the Israel-Hamas war, the U.S. southern border and more. The Republican challengers made a point to take aim at Haley – as the former South Carolina governor rises in polls in important early voting states.

The GOP candidates also split on how they'll take on former President Donald Trump in the Republican primary. Trump wasn't in attendance at the debate, and the Republican frontrunner has refused to attend previous debates, citing his lead in state and national polls.

Catch up with USA TODAY's live coverage here.

GOP candidates share their favorite presidents

The Republican candidates ran the gamut when asked about which of America's presidents inspired them, from George Washington to Ronald Reagan.

Chris Christie went with former President Ronald Reagan, the conservative icon of the 1980s. Nikki Haley went with the classics: Former President George Washington, the father of the country, and former President Abraham Lincoln, the savior of the country.

Vivek Ramaswamy picked former President Thomas Jefferson, primary author of the Declaration of Independence.

Ron DeSantis made a unique choice – former President Calvin Coolidge, president during the Roaring 1920s and another pro-business hero.

– David Jackson

‘Disgusting’: Nikki Haley knocks heated college campus hearing

Haley during the debate called Tuesday's House Education Committee hearing on antisemitism on college campuses “disgusting.”

University presidents, including Harvard University's Claudine Gay, were asked to answer to antisemitic incidents that have occurred on college campuses since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.

Haley proposed steps the federal government could take to punish colleges and universities, including holding their tax-exempt status at stake. She also suggested limiting the social media app TikTok, which has faced criticism for amplifying antisemitic content.

– Savannah Kuchar

Vivek Ramaswamy hits out at Nikki Haley

Vivek Ramawamy made clear on the debate stage that he doesn’t question Haley’s faith, though his campaign has referred to her by her first name “Nimarata” rather than her preferred name “Nikki.”

“I don't question your faith. But I question your authenticity. And I think that's deeper here. We were just talking about the transition. This is a symptom of a deeper cancer in American life, identity politics,” he said.

Ramaswamy added that while Haley said previously he has a “women” problem, she has a “corruption” problem.

Haley, who has converted to Christianity and long been open about her faith replied: “It's not worth my time to respond to him.”

Chris Christie bashes Ron DeSantis for not directly answering question on Donald Trump

Chris Christie criticized Ron DeSantis for sidestepping a question on whether Donald Trump was mentally fit to be president, saying that while the Florida governor gave an “interesting speech” but was unresponsive.

He later added, “This is the problem with my three colleagues. They're afraid to offend Donald Trump.”

“And what are you going to do when you sit across from President Xi? You sit across from the Ayatollah, you sit across from Putin, you have to be willing to offend with the truth and answer,” Christie added.

– Sudiksha Kochi

Chris Christie: Donald Trump is an 'angry, bitter man,'

Chris Christie blasted the former president's claim he would be a "dictator" on "day one" when it comes to immigration and energy.

"There's no mystery to what he wants to do ... this is an angry, bitter man," Christie said.

Christie said another Trump presidency would be all about "retribution" against his political enemies. Meanwhile, Some members of the audience booed Christie's comments about the ex-president.

He later got into an argument about DeSantis over whether Trump is fit to be president and accused DeSantis and other candidates of being "afraid to offend" Trump.

– David Jackson

Nikki Haley fields question on Donald Trump's immigration priorities

Chris Christie had earlier in the debate criticized his fellow Republicans on stage for attacking each other, rather than frontrunner Trump.

But at the hour mark, Haley was served a question on the former president’s comments about implementing immigration restrictions from countries with majority Muslim populations. She sidestepped directly criticizing Trump, focusing instead on the merit of such a ban.

“It’s not about a religion. It’s about a fact that certain countries are dangerous,” Haley said. “The president has one job and that’s to keep Americans safe.”

– Savannah Kuchar

DeSantis: College isn’t the only route to be successful

When Ron DeSantis was asked what he would do to help Americans make ends meet, he directed his answer to a crucial voting bloc in the Republican primary: young voters.

“Another thing that's burdening young people are the student loans,” he said. But he went on to attack student loan forgiveness programs and argued that young people don’t need to go through college to be successful.

“Don't let anybody tell you that the only way you can be successful is through a four year brick and IV degree,” he said. “That's one way you can be. It's not the only way and we're going to fix that problem in the United States of America.”

– Sudiksha Kochi

Ramaswamy assails 'fascist neocons'

Vying for line of the night, Ramaswamy assailed Haley and others for an overly aggressive foreign policy, and invoked the name of a former Republican vice president.

"You can put lipstick on a Dick Cheney, it is still a fascist neocon," Ramaswamy said. "That's what we see today. It's Dick Cheney all over again in this party."

Haley and Christie have described Ramaswamy's foreign policy as ill-informed on the war in Ukraine, Israel's war with Hamas and other global issues.

– David Jackson

Candidates talk fentanyl, southern border

When asked about immigration and border policies, Republican White House hopefuls focused on fentanyl.

DeSantis said the drug crisis could have been prevented with a wall along the southern border with Mexico, a Trump administration project the Florida governor said he supports.

“This would not have happened,” with a southern border wall, DeSantis said, adding his promise to complete the effort, adding “There’s going to be a new sheriff in town.”

Haley discussed vetting undocumented immigrants, referencing her own family’s experience.

“My parents came here legally. They put in the time, they put in the price. They are offended by those that are coming illegally,” Haley said.

– Savannah Kuchar

Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis argue about who is tougher on China

Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley mixed it up over who would be tougher on China as president – and why.

Too many Haley donors make money on Chinese investments, DeSantis said, arguing "they are not going to let her be tough on China."

Haley said DeSantis is just upset because those donors "used to support him and now support me."

– David Jackson

GOP candidates discuss American hostages and Israel

When asked how far he would go as president to release American hostages held in Gaza, Ron DeSantis said that “we have to look out for our people when they're hostages… you have to do whatever you can to get them home.”

He added that the U.S. needs to stand with Israel.

Meanwhile, Chris Christie blasted Ron DeSantis for refusing to directly answer the question, saying “I'd send the American army in there to get our people home and get them home now, and I'll answer that question directly.”

Ramaswamy said that he’ll tell Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “smoke the terrorists on your southern border” and that Hamas' attack on “subhuman” and “immoral.”

– Sudiksha Kochi

Chris Christie on Vivek Ramaswamy: 'The most obnoxious blowhard in America'

Forget Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley – the biggest fight so far came between Chris Christie and Vivek Ramaswamy.

Christie called Ramaswamy "the most obnoxious blowhard in America," and blasted his repeated attacks on Haley. Ramaswamy said Christie doesn't understand foreign policy and appeared to invoke his weight, suggesting that the former New Jersey governor "enjoy a nice meal and get the hell out of this race."

– David Jackson

What is ESG? What about BlackRock and Charles Schwab?

Early in the debate, Republican candidates briefly sparred over the term 'ESG.' But what does it mean?

The acronym for environmental, social, governance principles isn’t widely known outside investment circles but is fast becoming a popular GOP talking point in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election.

The GOP says the nation's top money managers are pursuing an ideological agenda at the expense of financial returns in violation of their fiduciary duty.

Candidates also mentioned BlackRock. Money managers like BlackRock are signatories of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investing. They increasingly use environmental, social and governance factors when making investment decisions.

The Charles Schwab Corporation is another financial services company.

– Jessica Guynn and Marina Pitofsky

Chris Christie: Donald Trump is unfit, and other candidates are cowards

Christie followed through on his plan to attack Trump – and attack the other Republican candidates for not campaigning against the indicted ex-president.

"The truth needs to be spoken," Christie said of Trump. "He is unfit."

Christie said it was "ridiculous" that the debate ran 17 minutes without a discussion of Trump. Moderators did not follow up with the other candidates; they moved on to a question about Israel's war with Hamas.

– David Jackson

Ramaswamy: ‘It is going to take a leader from the outside’

When asked whether he was still a unifier in the party, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy dismissed the question and bashed former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, calling her “corrupt.”

“It is going to take a leader from the outside with fresh legs from the next generation to unite this country, not the broken politicians who are puppets of the puppet masters, but the actual people in this country,” he said.

– Sudiksha Kochi

Ron DeSantis: Voters decide elections, not pundits and pollsters

Ron DeSantis answered the first question of the debate, with the Florida governor asked about his electability against Donald Trump.

"The voters actually make these decisions, not pundits or pollsters. I'm sick of hearing about these polls." DeSantis said, not "pundits" or "pollsters."

He then attacked Nikki Haley, who has passed him in many crucial polls in early voting states.

– David Jackson

How do I watch the Republican debate tonight?

The fourth GOP presidential debate will take place from 8 to 10 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

Viewers can watch and stream the fourth Republican debate on the NewsNation channel, app and website. Pre- and post-coverage by former CNN host Chris Cuomo will take place two hours before and after the debate.

The debate will also air on the CW in the Eastern and Central time zones, and on a delay in the Mountain and Pacific time zones. The GOP matchup will air on the CW from 7 to 9 p.m. Mountain time and 8 to 10 p.m. Pacific time.

A live stream of the debate will also be broadcast on Rumble.

− Haadiza Ogwude

Chris Christie plans to bash Donald Trump – and Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis

Donald Trump isn't at this debate, but his name will no doubt surface. Chris Christie will make sure of it.

The New Jersey governor, who has been outspoken about Trump's legal and ethical problems, also plans to hit Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis for not being more critical of the indicted ex-president.

Said Christie adviser Maria Comella: "Expect Governor Christie to be in prosecutorial mode tonight as it relates to Trump and the candidates who have failed to show the courage to take him on."

– David Jackson

Eliana Johnson, Megyn Kelly, Elizabeth Vargas are moderating

Talk show host Megyn Kelly, NewsNation anchor Elizabeth Vargas and The Washington Free Beacon editor-in-chief Eliana Johnson will moderate the fourth GOP debate.

– Anthony Robledo

What are Republican primary polls saying?

Former President Donald Trump has long led the crowded field of GOP White House hopefuls. In a Real Clear Politics average of national polls, Trump garners 61% support, compared to Ron DeSantis’ 13.5%.

Nikki Haley received 10.3% support, Vivek Ramaswamy received 4.9% and Chris Christie received 2.5%.

However, some of the candidates have dismissed national polls, saying that they’re focused on critical early voting states like New Hampshire and Iowa. Trump nevertheless leads the Republican candidates in a swath of state polls too.

– Marina Pitofsky

Where is the Republican debate?

The setting for the fourth GOP debate is the Moody Music Hall at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama voters will make their presidential picks on March 5, part of more than a dozen Super Tuesday states. That’s when the largest number of delegates is up for grabs of any single day in the primary cycle.

In general elections, the state has been in the red column for decades, last supporting a Democrat for president when Jimmy Carter ran in 1976.

– Associated Press

Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy and other Republican hopefuls oppose student loan forgiveness

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court had struck down President Joe Biden’s plan to forgive $400 billion in student loan debt for hundreds of Americans - a move that 2024 GOP candidates applauded and has become a contentious point of debate.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley wrote on X that a president “cannot just wave his hand and eliminate loans for students he favors.”

Likewise, biotechnology entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy supported the court’s decision.

“We have a bad habit in America of paying people to do the exact opposite of what we want them to do: more $$ to stay at home than to work, more $$ to be a single mother than married, more $$ for those who *fail* to repay loans than those who do,” Ramaswamy wrote on X. – Sudiksha Kochi

A low-key debate atmosphere at the University of Alabama

It's quaint and quiet at the University of Alabama - even on debate night.

Unlike at other Republican debate venues, there no political demonstrators, protesters, or street parties. There are no groups of Trump backers advocating for their missing candidate, or Democrats bashing all of the GOP candidates.

The road barriers, fencing, reporters, security personnel, reporters, and armies of television production people are the only signs that something is going on at the music building on the edge of campus.

Most of the civilians who wandered over are attending the debate. Many of the others did wear team shirts - mostly for Alabama and/or its celebrated football team.

– David Jackson

Republican face off comes after Ron DeSantis, Gavin Newsom held their own debate

As voters continue to express their distaste at the prospect of a 2020 presidential rematch next year, two fresher-faced governors provided the current contest with a sideshow earlier this month: Florida's Ron DeSantis and California's Gavin Newsom.

The leaders have been polar opposites since taking office and often use each other as public foils when making their political arguments. And during last week's debate, they also tried to cast each other as mirrors of Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

"Joe Biden will be our nominee in a matter of weeks," Newsom said during the debate. "And in a matter of weeks... (Ron) will be endorsing Donald Trump as a nominee for the Republican Party."

But Florida's leader struck back by regularly calling attention to how voters remain pessimistic about higher costs and many don't believe the president is up to the job.

– Phillip M. Bailey

Follow along as we fact-check the Republican debate

Was that a fair point or a misuse of data? An accurate anecdote or a misleading description?

Follow along with the USA TODAY Fact Check Team as we dig into claims from the candidates as they make them in tonight’s Republican primary debate. We'll dig through the data, documents and transcripts to sort fact from fiction.

GOP debate live fact check:Separating fact from fiction on Republican candidates' claims

– Eric Litke

When is the Republican convention?

The candidates on stage tonight are gearing up for 2024's Republican primaries, when GOP White House hopefuls will compete state by state for support.

An official 2024 Republican nomination will be made next year at the GOP's national convention. It's scheduled for July 15 to July 18 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Wisconsin has become a crucial swing state for presidential election, and President Joe Biden won the state in the 2020 race for the White House

– Marina Pitofsky

Where is Donald Trump? The Republican frontrunner isn't going to the debate

No, the longtime Republican frontrunner won’t be in attendance at the debate Wednesday night. Instead, he’s holding a closed-door fundraiser in Florida.

Trump has skipped each of the previous Republican primary debates, arguing that he doesn’t want to give his GOP rivals a chance to take shots at him on stage. He has also said he wouldn’t sign the GOP “Beat Biden” pledge to support any Republican nominee, even if it isn't him.

– Sudiksha Kochi and Marina Pitofsky

Ramaswamy might criticize RNC chair on stage tonight

Vivek Ramaswamy has found a new person to target on the debate stage and the campaign trail: Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel.

During the third GOP debate, Ramaswamy criticized McDaniel, saying that “no red wave” has come in elections since 2018.

“I think that we have to have accountability in our party for that matter, Ron, if you want to come on stage tonight, you want to look the GOP voters in the eye and tell them you resign. I will turn over my yield, my time to you,” he said.

On X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Ramaswamy has called on McDaniel to resign. Meanwhile, she’s hit back at his insults, saying in an interview last month, “Last I checked, I wasn’t running for president. He’s at 4%, he’s looking for headlines.

– Sudiksha Kochi

Will Ron DeSantis joke about FSU football in Alabama?

Was Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis the reason the College Football Playoff selection committee decided to choose the University of Alabama over Florida State University for the college football's four-team playoff?

No. But former President Donald Trump has blamed him.

Trump in a recent post on his Truth Social platform, bashed DeSantis for the committee’s decision, and DeSantis had a harsh response for the former president.

“Stop being a keyboard warrior and let’s step up and debate one on one. He’s had a lot to say about me over the last year. Say it to my face. I’m game,” DeSantis said Tuesday on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle.”

– Sudiksha Kochi

Will Joe Biden debate Dean Phillips or other Democratic challengers?

Joe Biden probably won't take the debate stage with his Democratic rivals.

If an incumbent president is running, political parties usually rally around that person's reelection bid. There's no formal rule, but at this point, Biden is the de facto Democratic nominee.

– Marina Pitofsky

Will the economy take center stage?

The Republican candidates onstage in Alabama will likely spend swaths of the debate talking about jobs, inflation and other economic issues impacting Americans' wallets.

You can also expect a lot of attacks on President Joe Biden on these issues, many of which will follow the campaign for the next year.

– David Jackson

Will Republican candidates clash with Ramaswamy again?

Vivek Ramaswamy will again be near the center of the debate stage, ensuring high-profile skirmishes with other candidates, according to Aaron Kall, director of debate at the University of Michigan and co-author of "Debating The Donald."

In the last debate, many candidates sparred with Ramaswamy over his lack of experience and some of his controversial stances on foreign policy and former President Donald Trump’s indictments, which will likely resurface in the fourth debate.

Ramaswamy has leaned on ultra-conservative values to try to appeal to voters, but he has also reached out to younger Republicans as the youngest Republican candidate in the field.

– Sudiksha Kochi

Where do Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis and other Republican candidates stand on abortion?

Nikki Haley has often argued that leaders need to find consensus on the issue of abortion, including agreeing to not jail women who have the procedure. A self-described “pro-life” candidate, Haley said Republicans need to be honest about a national ban, which would require 60 votes in the Senate.

Most Republican candidates, including Chris Christie, has dodged the question by saying they would leave the issues to the states.

Ron DeSantis has touted his record on the issue as Florida governor, having signed a statewide six-week ban into law earlier this year.

– Savannah Kuchar

When is the fourth Republican debate?

The debate will start at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. It’s scheduled to continue for two hours.

– Associated Press

How many times has Chris Christie run for president? What about the other Republicans on stage?

Chris Christie’s 2024 bid for this White House marks his second presidential campaign. He previously ran in 2016, when former President Donald Trump ultimately won the Republican nomination.

As for the other GOP hopefuls on stage, Haley, DeSantis and Ramaswamy are all mounting their first presidential campaign.

– Marina Pitofsky

When is the fifth Republican debate?

This is the last Republican debate of 2023, and no one knows how things will proceed in the actual campaign year of 2024.

The Republican National Committee, which organized all four GOP debates this year, is considering proposals to allow some non-RNC debates in 2024, especially in the days before the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 15 and the New Hampshire primary on Jan. 23.

Candidates are agitating for as much exposure as possible ahead of the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 15, and are hopeful that Donald Trump will participate. The RNC is expected to make an announcement next week.

“As has been the process throughout the entire year, the debate committee will meet to decide the details of future debates,” said Emma Vaughn, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee.

– David Jackson

Haley and DeSantis prepare for battle

Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis are already circling each other ahead of tonight's debate. In emails and social media posts, Haley and her aides are spotlighting her rise in the polls and reports of infighting within DeSantis' campaign.

"Ron DeSantis spent $100 million to lose half his support," the "Team Haley" account said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

The DeSantis campaign, meanwhile, signaled he will stress that some of Haley's big financial contributions are coming from Democrats.

"Ron DeSantis is bearing the banner of conservatism in this nomination contest and will defeat the swamp, starting with Nikki Haley,” said DeSantis campaign press secretary Bryan Griffin.

– David Jackson

Conservative Supreme Court could factor into debate

Seven years ago, during the first GOP debate of the 2016 election, the Supreme Court was criticized by several candidates.

“It's time that we recognize the Supreme Court is not the supreme being,” then candidate Mike Huckabee quipped.

What a difference a few years makes.

The nation’s highest court, which today is more conservative than it has been in decades, has already factored into the GOP primary. Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump have swiped at each other over whether the bench is conservative enough. Earlier this year, Vivek Ramaswamy released a list of candidates he said he would nominate to the court, including Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah.

– John Fritze

Who's in the debate tonight?

Four candidates will show up to the face off at the University of Alabama.

The Republican National Committee announced Monday that former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy qualified for the debate.

To qualify, GOP candidates must have polled at least 6% in two national polls or 6% in one national poll and one poll from two separate early voting states recognized by the RNC, among other hurdles.

− Sudiksha Kochi

Don Bolduc: Trump ally's victory in New Hampshire GOP primary ...

CNN —

New Hampshire Republicans’ decision to nominate Don Bolduc to take on Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan locks in the final key matchup in November’s battle for control of the Senate.

Bolduc, a retired Army brigadier general who has embraced former President Donald Trump’s election denialism, will defeat state Senate President Chuck Morse, who has conceded. GOP Gov. Chris Sununu and national Republicans had rushed to defeat Bolduc, whom they viewed as a weaker general election candidate against Hassan.

In an evenly divided Senate, where Republicans need a net gain of just one seat to flip the chamber, Hassan is one of four key Democratic incumbents Republicans are looking to pick off this year. But as they have across the country, some candidates following in Trump’s footsteps in New Hampshire have raised concerns among GOP leaders because of their lackluster fundraising and hard-line right-wing rhetoric.

The primary in New Hampshire, which was thrown open after Sununu rebuffed national Republicans’ efforts to recruit him, has been a window into the GOP struggle that’s been waged across the political map over the spring and summer.

Bolduc, who lost a bid for the GOP Senate nod two years ago, had brought in just shy of $600,000 by August 24 compared to Hassan’s $31.4 million. He also has a penchant for saying controversial things, some of which he’s walked back. But in response, Sununu called Bolduc a “conspiracy-theorist-type candidate” and “not a serious candidate” in an interview with WGIR last month.

In a Sunday op-ed in the New Hampshire Union Leader, Sununu wrote that “the stakes are too high for New Hampshire and America,” adding that Republicans needed a nominee “who will have the resources to compete in the most crucial battleground state in America.”

Still, Republican voters again ignored establishment preferences and opted for the candidate who has aligned himself more closely with Trump, even if doing so comes at the cost of electability in November.

A pre-primary season of recruiting misses by top Republicans left the party without what it viewed as its strongest candidates in key races – including governors like Sununu and Arizona’s Doug Ducey, who opted against taking on Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly. Then, a summer of bruising Senate primaries – many of them shaped by Trump’s endorsements and pro-Trump voters’ demands for candidates who embrace his lies about election fraud – left Republicans fretting about the quality of the party’s nominees and scrambling to close Democrats’ fundraising advantage.

Republicans had hoped that inflation and the backlash new presidents historically have faced in midterm elections would carry the party to House and Senate majorities in November, delivering victories in competitive races across the map no matter the individual candidates in those races.

But gas prices have dropped. Biden and the Democratic-controlled Congress have enacted more of the President’s agenda. Democratic candidates have outpaced most of their GOP Senate rivals in fundraising. The FBI’s search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate has once again elevated a figure who galvanizes liberals and alienates suburban voters. And perhaps most significantly, the Supreme Court’s June decision to end federal abortion rights protections appears to have animated parts of the electorate that Democrats feared would slip away from the party or sit the midterms out.

The early signs of a more evenly matched midterm landscape came in Democratic victories in a special election in a bellwether House district in upstate New York and in Alaska’s ranked-choice special election for the state’s at-large House seat, which has been in GOP hands for nearly half a century, as well as voters’ overwhelming support for abortion rights in a referendum on the Kansas primary ballot.

Meanwhile, a handful of Republican candidates who won primaries, many with Trump’s backing, have struggled to expand their appeal to a broader electorate in critical states – including Arizona, Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Nevada – that could decide which party controls a Senate that is currently divided 50-50.

GOP ups spending and focuses on crime

As GOP groups ramp up spending on television ads, their message in several key states is shifting away from attacking Biden on inflation. Instead, those ads target Democrats on crime and policing.

The latest example: In an ad launched Monday in Wisconsin, the National Republican Senatorial Committee labeled Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, the Democrat challenging Sen. Ron Johnson, “dangerous” and a “defund the police Democrat.”

Barnes, in his own ad launched two weeks ago, said Republicans are trying to scare voters, and that their charge that he wants to defund the police is “a lie.”

“I’ll make sure our police have the resources and training they need to keep our communities safe, and that our communities have the resources to stop crime before it happens,” Barnes says in the spot.

The shifting strategy underscores how unsettled the playing field is in the battle for control of the Senate just eight weeks from the November 8 midterm elections.

In August, Republican campaigns and groups spent $25 million airing over 160 ads about inflation, while also spending about $11 million airing 80 ads about crime, according to AdImpact data. In just two weeks of September so far, Republicans have spent about $9 million airing 89 ads about inflation, while also spending about $9 million airing 54 ads about crime.

In Ohio’s key Senate race, Republican J.D. Vance launched an ad last week, saying, “Streets are exploding with drugs and violence, while liberals like [Democratic opponent] Tim Ryan attack and defund our police.”

Ryan has repeatedly distanced himself from “defunding the police.” In a recent ad in which he throws footballs at TV screens showing Republicans’ ads, he says, “Here come the culture wars; I’m not that guy,” as a football crashes into a screen showing the phrase “defund the police.”

Democratic Senate candidates have so far vastly outspent their Republican rivals in races in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania, forcing Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell-aligned outside GOP groups to attempt to make up the difference. As the campaign season shifts into a new gear post-Labor Day, Senate Leadership Fund, for example, is set to massively ramp up its spending. The super PAC has placed nearly $200 million in ad reservations over the next two months, according to AdImpact data, the most of any political advertiser.

It’s picking up attacks in the crucial Pennsylvania Senate race, for instance, with an ad that highlights Democratic nominee John Fetterman’s support for various prison reforms, echoing, “far-left John Fetterman, dangerously liberal on crime.” Fetterman, like other Democratic nominees this year, has explicitly talked about funding the police.

FEC filings from SLF last week showed it upping its commitment in several key states – adding $3.7 million to Pennsylvania, $3.7 million to Georgia, $3.5 million to North Carolina, $3 million to Ohio, $2.4 million to Wisconsin, and $2 million to Nevada. The additions will complement already massive reservations in battleground states. SLF had previously booked $38 million in Georgia, $33 million in Pennsylvania, $28 million in North Carolina, $27 million in Ohio, $19 million in New Hampshire, $16 million in Nevada, $15 million in Wisconsin, and $10 million in Arizona.

The GOP spending in North Carolina and Ohio underscores Democrats’ success in expanding the map of competitive races. Both seats are held by retiring Republican senators, and are must-wins for the GOP’s chances of winning the chamber in November.

In Florida, Democratic Rep. Val Demings has also outspent Republican Sen. Marco Rubio. Even though Rubio has long been favored to win reelection on the same ballot that features potential 2024 Republican presidential prospect Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is seeking a second term, Demings’ nearly $25 million in TV ads has outpaced Rubio and Republicans by about a 4-to-1 margin. A big part of her message has been leaning into her experience as the former Orlando police chief to try to head off Republicans’ attempts to tie her to her party’s most liberal members. “I’ll protect Florida from bad ideas like defunding the police,” she said in one recent spot.

Debate about debates

Several key midterm match-ups are now in the midst of a debate about whether, when and how many times the candidates should debate – including in Pennsylvania, where Fetterman, the Democratic lieutenant governor who suffered a stroke this spring, has committed to only one show-down with Republican Mehmet Oz, who has sought five debates.

Fetterman has said he would only debate in October. He said in a statement that he always intended to debate Oz and that the hold-up has “only ever been about addressing some of the lingering issues of the stroke, the auditory processing, and we’re going to be able to work that out,” but he didn’t provide specifics.

“Let’s be clear - Dr. Oz’s campaign won’t agree to a SECRET debate. It has to be a REAL one with REAL journalists asking REAL questions. Sorry John - imaginary debates don’t count!,” Oz communications director Brittany Yanick said in response.

While Oz’s team has been raising questions about Fetterman’s health, the Democrat has hammered Oz over past remarks calling abortion “murder,” with his allies warning Sunday that Oz would be a “rubber stamp” for a national ban.

“Women are the reason we can win,” Fetterman said at a rally in the Philadelphia suburbs. “Don’t piss women off.”

In Georgia, Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and his Republican challenger, former University of Georgia football star Herschel Walker, have engaged in a months-long debate about debates.

Walker refused to participate in a debate during the GOP primary. Warnock has sought three debates, and Walker has said he’d debate Warnock on October 14 in Savannah. Warnock responded by saying he would debate Walker then, if Walker would accept another debate.

A person familiar with the Republican candidate’s thinking told CNN last week that Walker is not going to agree to another debate, effectively sending both candidates back to square one.

Debates typically drive news coverage of key races in their final weeks. The limited number in several key races, including Pennsylvania and Georgia, could increase the importance of television ads as the primary way of reaching voters – a reality that explains why McConnell and other top Republicans have increased outreach to major donors and urged senators to transfer campaign cash to the Senate Leadership Fund.

“The Democrats are going to vastly outspend Republicans across the board. But as long as we have enough money to tell our story and to defend our opposition, I think we’ll be fine,” Texas Sen. John Cornyn, a member of McConnell’s leadership team, said last week.

Eric Bradner David Wright
Eric Bradner
David Wright

Biden proposes South Carolina as first primary state in drastic shake ...

CNN —

President Joe Biden has asked Democratic National Committee leaders to drastically reshape the 2024 presidential nominating calendar and make South Carolina the first state to host a primary, followed by Nevada and New Hampshire on the same day a week later, Georgia the following week and then Michigan, a source confirms to CNN.

Biden’s preferences were announced Thursday evening at a dinner for members of the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee by committee co-chairs Jim Roosevelt, Jr. and Minyon Moore. The committee is set to meet Friday and Saturday in Washington and is poised to propose a new presidential nominating calendar.

Biden’s expression of his preferences will play a significant role in the process. A DNC source said his elevation of South Carolina to the first-in-the-nation primary has sparked significant debate as members meet Thursday night. But with Biden’s support, this proposal is likely to ultimately gain the support of the committee, though this person emphasized that nothing is final until the votes are held.

If the DNC ultimately adopts this calendar, it would be an extraordinary shake up of the existing order and would strip Iowa of the first-in-the-nation status that it has held since 1972. Iowa has traditionally gone first, followed by New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. It would also add a fifth state to the slate before Super Tuesday (the first Tuesday in March) and elevate Georgia and Michigan as early nominating states for the first time.

South Carolina’s primary would be held on February 6, Nevada and New Hampshire would have their contests on February 13, Georgia’s primary would be on February 20 and Michigan’s would be on February 27, according to the source.

Biden had also sent a letter to DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee members on Thursday laying out what he believed should be guiding principles for the committee as it discusses the calendar.

“Just like my Administration, the Democratic Party has worked hard to reflect the diversity of America - but our nominating process does not,” the president’s letter reads. “For fifty years, the first month of our presidential nominating process has been a treasured part of our democratic process, but it is time to update the process for the 21st century. I am committed to working with the DNC to get this done.”

The president wrote: “We must ensure that voters of color have a voice in choosing our nominee much earlier in the process and throughout the entire early window. As I said in February 2020, you cannot be the Democratic nominee and win a general election unless you have overwhelming support from voters of color - and that includes Black, Brown and Asian American & Pacific Islander voters.

“For decades, Black voters in particular have been the backbone of the Democratic Party but have been pushed to the back of the early primary process,” he continued. “We rely on these voters in elections but have not recognized their importance in our nominating calendar. It is time to stop taking these voters for granted, and time to give them a louder and earlier voice in the process.”

Biden said in the letter the Democratic Party should abolish caucuses, arguing they are “inherently anti-participatory” and “restrictive.”

The Washington Post was first to report on the president’s preferred order for the nominating calendar and the letter he sent to committee members.

Prioritizing more diverse battlegrounds

The DNC earlier this year approved a plan to prioritize diverse battleground states that choose to hold primaries, not caucuses, as it considers which states should hold early contests. Beyond the tumult of the 2020 caucuses, Iowa is largely White, no longer considered a battleground state and is required by state law to hold caucuses.

“There’s very little support for Iowa because they don’t fit into the framework and because of the debacle of 2020. There’s a lot of emotional momentum – it’s not unanimous – but there’s a lot of emotional momentum to replace Iowa with a state that is more representative, more inclusive and instills more confidence and is a battleground state,” one DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee member told CNN.

Any new proposal by the committee would have to be approved at a full DNC meeting, which will take place early next year. If a new schedule is adopted, it would be the first changes made to the Democratic nominating calendar since 2006, when Nevada and South Carolina were added as early states. It would also break with the Republican calendar, as the Republican National Committee voted earlier this year to reaffirm the early state lineup of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.

Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell, who has spearheaded Michigan’s effort to become an early-voting state, told CNN earlier on Thursday she was “feeling good” about Michigan’s chances and that she believed the state was in a “strong position” heading into the committee meeting.

“The White House knows that we don’t win presidencies without the heartland,” Dingell said. “And we’ve got to have a primary system where candidates are campaigning in a heartland state that reflects the diversity of this country and that they’re testing them because that’s where we win or lose in general elections.”

Nevada vs. New Hampshire

Nevada has been making a play to move up further in the calendar and unseat New Hampshire as the first-in-the-nation primary. New Hampshire has held the first primary on the presidential nominating calendar since 1920 and that status is protected by state law.

Nevada Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, whose reelection in November was critical to allowing Democrats to maintain control of the Senate, argues her state’s diverse electorate makes it a “microcosm of the rest of the country.”

“If you’re a presidential candidate and you can win in Nevada, you have a message that resonates across the country,” Cortez Masto told MSNBC earlier this month.

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ political arm, CHC BOLD PAC, on Wednesday announced it was backing Nevada’s application to host the first-in-the-nation primary.

“The state that goes first matters, and we know that Latino voters will only become even more decisive in future election cycles when it comes to winning the White House and majorities in the House and Senate,” Reps. Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Raul Ruiz of California, leaders of the CHC BOLD PAC, said in a statement.

New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen tweeted Thursday, “NH’s First-In-The-Nation primary gives every candidate an opportunity to connect directly with engaged, informed voters in a battleground state – and Granite Staters are experts at assessing candidates & campaigns. I’m proud to support NH’s #FITN primary.”

Jockeying for early-state status

Earlier this year, the DNC committee heard presentations from 16 states – including the four current early states – as well as Puerto Rico on their pitches on why they should become an early state or hold on to their spot. Amid pressure to boot Iowa from its top position, the Hawkeye State made its case to stay first in the calendar and proposed simplifying the caucus process.

Minnesota is also among the states jockeying to join the early-state ranks. The chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, Ken Martin, sent a memo to DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee members on Wednesday arguing Minnesota is “more diverse and has a stronger party infrastructure than Iowa, but unlike Michigan, it is not large enough that it would overshadow the other early primary states or make it harder and more expensive for candidates to compete in during this critical window.”

Both Michigan’s and Minnesota’s cases were bolstered after Democrats in both states won trifecta control of the governor and state legislatures in the midterms. Primary dates are generally set by law, so state parties would need cooperation from their legislatures and governors to become early-voting states. The Michigan state Senate, which is currently controlled by Republicans, this week already took the step of voting to move the presidential primary up a month earlier to February.

Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, along with other party leaders in the state, sent a letter this month to members of the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee pledging to passing legislation moving up the primary date if Minnesota was selected as an early state. The letter, obtained by CNN, argued Minnesota is a “highly representative approximation of the country, paired with a robust state and local party infrastructure, an engaged electorate, and a logistical and financial advantage for campaigns.”

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misstated the year that Iowa became the first early state in the presidential nominating calendar.