In the race for the Republican presidential nomination, candidates Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, and Chris Christie found themselves at the center of controversy this week. With the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries looming, these candidates faced tough questions from voters regarding their stance on former President Donald Trump and their remarks about the Civil War.

At a town hall in New Hampshire, 9-year-old audience member confronted Haley, currently in second place behind Trump in the polls, about her position on Trump and whether she would pardon him. Haley made headlines by expressing her willingness to pardon Trump even if he is found guilty of a crime, emphasizing the need to prioritize the best interests of the country.

"A leader needs to find out what's in the best interest of the country," Haley responded, "What's in the best interest of the country is not letting an 80-year-old man sitting in jail, that continues to divide the country. What's in the best interest of the country would be to pardon so that you can move on as a country and no longer talking about that."

Meanwhile, in Iowa, DeSantis faced a similar question about a potential Trump pardon if he were convicted by a jury. He dodged the question, stating that he had previously addressed the issue. Earlier this month, DeSantis expressed his opposition to imprisoning an older former president, as he believed it would not be beneficial to the country.

The most vocal Trump critic in the Republican primary field, Christie, seized the opportunity to criticize Haley's response to the question about the Civil War’s cause. At an event on Wednesday night, Haley faced backlash for not mentioning slavery as the primary cause of the Civil War. She later clarified her remarks, stating that the conflict was indeed about slavery but also involved the concept of freedom and the role of government.

During a town hall in New Hampshire, Christie expressed his concern about Haley's candidacy, arguing that her reluctance to openly acknowledge slavery as the cause of the Civil War raises questions about her ability to confront challenging issues. Christie warned that if Haley is unwilling to stand up against Trump or address the historical facts surrounding the Civil War, it raises doubts about her ability to handle international challenges with leaders like Vladimir Putin and President Xi Jinping.

In response, Haley fired back at Christie, accusing him of being "obsessed" with his dislike for Trump and suggesting that his obsession impairs his ability to focus on moving the country forward.

As the primary race intensifies, these clashes between candidates over issues like Trump's potential pardon and the interpretation of Civil War history highlight the deep divisions within the Republican Party. With voting in the Republican primary just weeks away, it remains to be seen how these controversies will impact the candidates' standing in the polls and their chances of securing the party's nomination.