Key Highlights to Anticipate in CNN's Town Halls featuring DeSantis and Haley

The two leading Republican candidates positioning themselves as alternatives to former President Donald Trump in the 2024 election will present their platforms to Iowa voters on Wednesday night. With the Iowa caucuses just a week and a half away, this marks the first major contest of the GOP presidential primary season. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley have risen to the forefront of the pack, which previously had nearly 20 candidates, and are currently seen as the unofficial semi-finalists vying to challenge Trump, who maintains a strong lead over both of them in both state and national polls.

At Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa, Haley and DeSantis will be participating in consecutive CNN town hall events where they will field questions from likely GOP caucus-goers, as well as anchors Kaitlan Collins and Erin Burnett. The focus will be on their vision for the future and why they believe they are better equipped than Trump or anyone else to defeat President Joe Biden in the upcoming election. Notably, Trump will not be present at the event, but the possibility of him securing a third GOP nomination remains a significant point of discussion. Both DeSantis and Haley have escalated their criticisms of Trump in recent weeks, although they are careful to avoid outright denunciations that could alienate undecided conservative voters.

DeSantis is up first at 9 p.m. ET with Collins, and Haley is scheduled to follow at 10 p.m. ET with Burnett.

Here are five things to watch during their conversations with Iowa voters:

Will DeSantis go directly at Trump?

2023 saw DeSantis as the front-runner to take on Trump, but as 2024 begins, he struggles to regain momentum and salvage his struggling, financially draining bid with a strong showing in Iowa.

The Florida governor has been more assertive in his recent appearances, taking aim at Trump and criticizing the former president for avoiding the GOP debates. He argues that he is better equipped to win over a small but potentially crucial group of swing voters in battleground states. However, this strategic adjustment has not yet gained widespread support from voters.

In response, DeSantis argued that he has consistently highlighted the differences between them on the campaign trail. He also criticized the media, suggesting that reporters want Republican candidates to attack Trump personally, but that's not his approach.

Could a more drastic change be coming? Stranger things have happened - but not many.

Will Haley take on Trump?

With Haley's surge in GOP polls, she has become the target of sharp criticisms from former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who is also a presidential candidate hoping for a strong finish in the upcoming New Hampshire primary. Christie has insinuated multiple times that Haley is not more aggressively opposing Trump because she may be considering joining his ticket as a running mate or running for president in 2028.

Christie said on MSNBC that if there was another person willing to challenge Donald Trump and speak the truth, he might reconsider leaving the race. However, no one else has stepped up. This criticism from Christie highlights the challenges Haley is up against. She has been gaining support from Republican voters who want to move on from Trump, and she may also attract moderate and independent voters in states like New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Expectations management

To truly defeat Trump, she will need to chip away at his backing from a significant portion of the GOP still committed to the ex-president. For three straight presidential election cycles, Trump's fellow party members have struggled to find a way to achieve this without pushing away those voters.

Haley and DeSantis are competing to emerge as the final Trump alternative, each trying to set reasonable expectations for their performances in the Iowa caucuses and make their case for being strong contenders in a field where Trump is still leading. DeSantis stated on Tuesday on Fox News that the outcome in Iowa will not determine the fate of his campaign.

DeSantis emphasized the importance of securing the majority of delegates in the race, noting that polling is unreliable in predicting the outcome of caucus events. He expressed determination to do whatever it takes to secure a win.

Meanwhile, Haley, campaigning in Kingston, New Hampshire, on Wednesday, hinted at potential surprises in the first-in-the-nation nominating contests.

Haley told voters that she is aware of the shifting dynamics in Iowa and New Hampshire, indicating a desire for change. Additionally, allies of the candidates are working to create positive expectations for their respective candidates.

The SFA Fund, Inc., a pro-Haley super PAC, released a video showcasing DeSantis' claims of winning the Iowa caucuses. Mark Harris, the chief strategist of the super PAC, stated that DeSantis needs to win Iowa, while Haley just needs to maintain momentum as the race moves to New Hampshire, where polls indicate she is in a strong second place behind Trump.

Civil War comments

During her 2024 campaign, Haley encountered a challenging moment last week in New Hampshire when she was questioned about the causes of the Civil War. Her response, which failed to mention slavery and instead focused on government operations, was criticized. Despite attempts to clarify her stance, even her allies like New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu admitted that her remarks were a mistake.

"Everyone has moved past it," Haley stated on Fox News on Wednesday, with the exception of the media.

However, despite this, Haley has been receiving criticism from a wide range of political figures, including allies of Trump and President Joe Biden, raising doubts about her political abilities. This incident is unlikely to be forgotten quickly and may continue to plague Haley during televised town halls and future debates.

During her interview with Fox News, Haley was questioned about the criticism she received after her mistake. She admitted that she had assumed everyone knew slavery was the underlying cause of the Civil War, and acknowledged that she should have stated that from the start. Growing up in the south, she explained, slavery was a common topic of discussion and study. She clarified that she should have immediately emphasized that the Civil War was primarily about slavery, which she had assumed was common knowledge, instead of also mentioning the role of government and the economic, social, and other rights of the people.

Abortion specifics

Throughout the four national debates, the Republican primary candidates have mostly avoided addressing what may prove to be the most pivotal issue in the upcoming general election: abortion rights.

Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade a year-and-a-half ago, voters from various ideologies have generally opposed efforts to restrict abortion and have consistently supported initiatives to protect the right.

Both Haley and DeSantis have not aligned themselves with the prevailing public opinion on this matter. DeSantis approved a six-week ban in Florida last year and has expressed support for a federal law limiting abortion to 15 weeks. However, he has not spoken extensively on either issue. (During a CNN town hall last month, he promoted the six-week ban before shifting to criticize Trump.)

Haley's stance on being "unapologetically pro-life" has made it difficult to define her political views. At the same time, she has expressed a desire to find a national consensus on this contentious issue. As the election draws near, both candidates will be expected to provide more clarity about their visions for the future and their strategies for appealing to voters in the general election.