CNN Moderators Force DeSantis and Haley to Say What They Admire About Each Other and It’s as Awkward as You Think

For two hours in Des Moines, Iowa, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley took numerous swipes at each other — but at the very end the CNN moderators forced them to say something nice about each other and it was just as awkward as you might expect.

Haley and DeSantis were at Drake University Wednesday evening for the final debate before the Iowa caucuses next Monday, moderated by CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash.

“You’ve been sparring on the campaign trail for months,” said Tapper. “We have seen some vicious attack ads going back and forth. And tonight we’ve had a very lively debate. On a different note, Governor DeSantis, let me ask you. What do you admire about Governor Haley?”

“Well, look, I mean I think, that, um, at the United nations, um, I did think that she, she spoke out strongly on some key issues,” said DeSantis. “And I appreciated that.”

He then pivoted to praising Haley’s home state. “I also appreciate the state of South Carolina. My wife is a College of Charleston graduate. Her parents lived there for many, many years. And so it is a wonderful state. There’s a lot of great people there and I’ve think to have been able to be governor there is a great achievement and I really appreciate everyone I’ve gotten to meet in South Carolina.”

“Governor Haley, what do you admire about Governor DeSantis?” said Tapper.

Haley offered a succinct answer: “I think he’s been a good governor.”

“Okay,” said Tapper with a chuckle, as Bash could be heard chuckling next to him. Tapper cued up the commercial break as the audience laughed a bit too.

Watch above via CNN.