Another GOP Debate, 2 More Alternative Realities

Donald Trump might have been on a different channel, but Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley shared equally grandiose delusions about the state of the race.

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.