5 Key Insights From Another Trump-Free Republican Debate

Candidate Clash: Highlights and Insights from the Republican Debate

The leading candidate faced minimal attacks while his competitors argued among themselves, Nikki Haley displayed a confident performance, Tim Scott reaffirmed his position, and Ron DeSantis made his debut in the debate by criticizing Trump.

While in the post-debate spin room alongside Fox News host Sean Hannity following Wednesday night’s second Republican debate, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida provided a succinct assessment of the event.

“If I were watching this from home,” remarked Mr. DeSantis, “I would have switched channels.”

The meandering and occasionally incomprehensible debate appeared to confirm former President Donald J. Trump’s choice to abstain from participation. With rare exceptions, the Republican candidates on stage appeared more interested in quarreling among themselves. They mostly directed only minor criticisms towards the leading front-runner and made little effort to alter the political landscape, where Mr. Trump continued to maintain a substantial lead. Even when combining the support of all his rivals in national polls, it still fell significantly short of the former president’s popularity.

Here are five observations from two hours of overlapping conversations, unaddressed inquiries, rehearsed retorts, and a notable absence of any mention regarding the significant legal challenges facing the top contender.

Trump faced some near misses, but the prevailing situation remains unchanged.

The first instance he spoke, Mr. DeSantis finally confronted Mr. Trump on a national platform.

“Donald Trump is conspicuously absent,” Mr. DeSantis declared. “He should be right here on this stage tonight. He owes it to you to defend his record, which resulted in a $7.8 trillion increase in debt, setting the stage for the current inflation we’re experiencing.”

Some allies and donors had been eagerly anticipating this level of assertiveness.

However, as the 120-minute debate marathon came to a close, that statement began to fade into the background. The candidates largely appeared to purposefully disregard Mr. Trump’s commanding lead, except for Mr. Christie, who made an awkward attempt at a nickname, dubbing him “Donald Duck.”

Prior to the debate, a super PAC supporting Mike Pence delivered a straightforward message to donors: “This race requires a significant shake-up, and it needs to happen quickly.”

However, the race appeared to experience only minor ripples.

The fact that Mr. Trump is facing 91 criminal charges remained untouched — a topic left unaddressed both by the debate moderators and the candidates who were ostensibly competing against him. While the former president did face more criticism compared to the first debate, the seven candidates on stage spent the majority of the evening engaged in internal disputes, creating an atmosphere that seemed more like a fierce battle for the second-place position.

Tim Scott criticized Nikki Haley for her stance on curtains and a gas tax. Meanwhile, Ms. Haley took a swipe at Mr. DeSantis regarding fracking. Vivek Ramaswamy faced scrutiny over his previous business connections with China and, in return, accused everyone of lacking knowledge about the Constitution. Chris Christie attempted to refocus the discussion on Mr. Trump, even suggesting at one point that he should be “voted off the island.”

Overall, it resulted in a tangled and chaotic exchange.

DeSantis provides a glimpse of what his followers have been seeking.

Supporters of Mr. DeSantis saw his initial debate showing as effective, despite some media critiques regarding his perceived lack of assertiveness, and they were hoping for a similar performance.

For the most part, they got what they wanted. Mr. DeSantis seized the opportunity provided by the evening’s only abortion-related question to criticize Mr. Trump for his criticism of Florida’s stringent six-week abortion ban. He skillfully navigated around a question concerning his past statements regarding his state’s curriculum on slavery, where he had suggested that some enslaved individuals had acquired valuable skills.

In the beginning, Mr. DeSantis appeared confident and in control. Aside from a lengthy exchange with Ms. Haley, he generally steered clear of heated arguments.

Moreover, he made an effort to insert himself into the conversation, especially after receiving minimal attention from the Fox Business moderators during the initial hour. While this initially frustrated his advisors, he eventually managed to speak more than anyone else on the stage.

He found a way to push back against the moderators towards the end when they asked the candidates to write on whiteboards which candidate they would vote “off the island.” While most of the candidates expressed their reluctance through head shakes, Mr. DeSantis boldly labeled the question as “disrespectful,” prompting everyone to move on.

However, his limited references to Mr. Trump made it challenging to envision the governor suddenly closing the substantial gap that has emerged between him and the former president. Furthermore, immediately after the debate concluded, Chris LaCivita, a senior adviser to Trump, issued a statement urging the Republican National Committee to cancel any future debates, implying that Mr. Trump did not feel immediate pressure to join the debate stage.

Haley solidified her position at the center stage.

Ms. Haley, who had garnered renewed attention from significant donors due to her strong performance in the first debate, exuded confidence while occupying the central position on the stage. She directed criticisms at Mr. DeSantis and effectively defended herself against attacks from Mr. Scott, whom she had initially appointed to the Senate.

Somewhere in the midst of it all, she delivered one of the evening’s more memorable lines, snapping at Mr. Ramaswamy as he discussed his reasons for joining TikTok: “Every time I hear you, I feel a little less enlightened.

Similar to Mr. DeSantis, Ms. Haley directed her attention toward Mr. Trump, criticizing his prioritization of issues such as the trade deficit over countering China’s increasing influence. She outlined several areas where she believed he had left America exposed, including foreign acquisitions of farmland and the existence of a Chinese spy facility in Cuba.

“We must shift our focus to what truly safeguards Americans,” she emphasized.

Above all, Ms. Haley’s growing influence was evident in the fact that some of her competitors started dissecting aspects of her tenure as both a governor and United Nations ambassador.

At one juncture, Mr. Scott compelled her to engage in a thorough conversation about the state’s gas tax, but she appeared prepared for the discussion.

“Bring it on, Tim,” she responded.

Tim Scott reaffirmed his presence.

Tim certainly made an impact.

In the previous debate, the South Carolina senator had somewhat receded into the background and experienced a decline in his poll numbers. However, right from the outset of Wednesday’s debate, he actively vied for speaking time and, notably, infused his typically sunny optimism with pointed critiques aimed at both Mr. Ramaswamy and Ms. Haley.

Remarkably, he refrained from targeting Mr. Trump.

Arguably, one of his standout moments during the evening occurred during the exchange with Mr. DeSantis regarding Florida’s curriculum on slavery. He predominantly avoided delving into specifics, although he did affirm that there was “not a single redeeming quality” in slavery. Instead, he focused on his personal journey and how it had led him to stand on the stage at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library as the sole Black candidate.

“I’ve faced discrimination, but America is not a racist country,” he asserted.

This line echoed his familiar campaign rhetoric, aligning with the central message of his candidacy, which he hopes will prevent him from sliding further towards the fringes of the stage.

Ramaswamy revealed a more compassionate and considerate demeanor.

Following the initial debate, numerous pundits swiftly proclaimed Mr. Ramaswamy as the victor. He gained significant notice for his aggressive personal attacks on his opponents, even accusing them of corruption and asserting that he was the only candidate who couldn’t be influenced by financial interests.

However, the post-debate polling data didn’t align with the narrative of his victory. Republican voters started to develop a more unfavorable perception of Mr. Ramaswamy, and his performance in early-state polls lagged behind his relatively stronger position in national online polls.

So, on Wednesday night, we witnessed a new version of Ramaswamy, labeled as ‘Ramaswamy 2.0.’ He took on a more conciliatory approach, reproaching his fellow candidates for their infighting and consistently emphasizing his admiration and respect for them.

In contrast, Mr. Christie assumed the role of the chief combatant on Wednesday, from introducing a new moniker for Mr. Trump to making an awkward reference to President Biden’s involvement with a teachers’ union member, his wife. (Mr. Pence, who played a much less prominent role than in the first debate, decided to chime in, noting that he had also been in a relationship with a teacher for decades—his wife as well.)

Mr. Ramaswamy’s attempt at reinvention didn’t resonate with anyone. The other candidates occasionally appeared to connect over their mutual lack of regard for him. Ms. Haley drew laughter from the audience when she quipped that she felt less intelligent every time he spoke. Mr. Scott criticized him for his business dealings in China. With the exception of criticisms directed at Mr. Biden, the most cutting remarks of the evening were aimed squarely at Mr. Ramaswamy.

By: M Z Hossain, Editor Sky Buzz Fed