DeSantis and Haley quarrel over 'lies' in Iowa

Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have taken the stage in the first one-on-one debate of the 2024 election cycle, while former President Donald Trump participates in a town hall with Fox News.

In a well-rehearsed zinger during a back-and-forth over Social Security reform, DeSantis joked that Haley has a "problem with ballistic podiatry."

That means "shooting yourself in the foot every other day," he quickly explained, drawing an eye roll from Haley.

The joke was a nod to Haley's recent campaign trail gaffes, among them her omission of slavery when a voter asked her about the causes of the Civil War.

DeSantis campaign ally Rep. Thomas Massie used the term on the social media platform X last week after Haley said in an interview that you "change personalities" going from Iowa to New Hampshire.

"We called this ballistic podiatry at MIT," the GOP Kentucky congressman wrote.

DeSantis and Haley are disagreeing over whether to raise the retirement age.

Haley supports raising the retirement age and has said that the current age of 65 is too low.

DeSantis on Wednesday night referenced his grandmother, who lived to be 91 and whose sole source of income was Social Security. He cited declining life expectancy in the United States as a reason he wouldn't support raising the age.

Haley said DeSantis voted as a congressman to raise the retirement age to 70. She says, "You can't trust him."

Haley is mocking DeSantis and the challenges his campaign has faced as numerous senior members of a super PAC backing him have resigned or been fired in recent weeks.

"It's been a revolving door of political people in and out of his campaign," Haley said.

"If he can't handle the financial parts of a campaign, how is he going to handle the economy when it comes to the White House?" he asked.

DeSantis says Haley likes to focus on political processes that voters do not care about while he prefers to talk about his record as a governor.

DeSantis and Haley are clashing over how they would lead the country in terms of education reform.

Asked about South Carolina's low ranking in terms of K-12 education during her time as governor, Haley said she advocated for more parent involvement and apprenticeships that "taught our kids how to build the things we're making."

DeSantis responded that Haley had "caved to the teachers union" when she was governor and wasn't able to get school choice. DeSantis says school choice is "universal" in Florida, passed through a state Legislature that has been very favorable to him.

Haley said she "wanted school choice" but that her own state's Republican legislature wouldn't do it.