"Decisive Moments for GOP Hopefuls as Iowa Caucuses Approach"

In the lead-up to the Iowa caucuses, GOP candidates are sharpening their final pitches. Ron DeSantis criticizes Trump's lack of action on university orthodoxies and questions his commitment to conservative values, positioning himself as the candidate who can deliver where Trump did not. Nikki Haley emphasizes the chaos surrounding Trump and presents herself as a more stable alternative, polling better against Biden. Vivek Ramaswamy praises Trump's America First movement but suggests a younger candidate can advance it further. Meanwhile, Trump focuses on fighting legal battles, including the defamation and sexual abuse lawsuit by E. Jean Carroll. DeSantis and Haley aim to shift focus from Trump's personal issues to their policy agendas, but Trump's legal troubles and the narrative of him being a victim of political attacks complicate their efforts to distance themselves.