Republican rivals attack each other’s record in debate without Trump

Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, right, looks at Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at the CNN Republican presidential debate at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa (Andrew Harnik/AP)

Republican rivals Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis attacked each other during their primary debate, rather than focus on former president Donald Trump, the party’s absent front runner to contest November’s US election.

Florida Governor De Santis and the former South Carolina governor called each other liars and insulted each other’s record and character early as they tried to demonstrate they were the strongest alternative to Mr Trump.