During Wednesday night’s GOP primary debate, the atmosphere was chaotic and messy. Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley delivered a memorable line, stating, “Honestly, every time I hear you I feel a little bit dumber for what you say.” Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy had his own notable quote, telling Senator Tim Scott, “Thank you for speaking while I’m interrupting.”
The debate took place at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. However, instead of pitching themselves as the candidate who can beat former President Donald Trump, the Republicans seemed to exist in an alternate universe where Trump was absent from both the stage and the race.
In the past, the Republican Party split primary debates into two sessions due to a large number of candidates. This time, there was only one unified debate night, but Trump didn’t bother to show up for the second debate in a row. With Trump’s commanding lead, the seven candidates on stage collectively polled at 36 percent, while Trump would still be winning by 20 percent if they joined forces.
It’s clear that the race is effectively over, so one might wonder why the candidates were even there. Some speculate that they’re running for second place, hoping for a shot at a cabinet position or even the vice presidency.
Former Vice President Mike Pence, however, is not running for vice president and has been criticizing Trump in a gentle manner. Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is also not seeking a sidekick role or an administration position. Christie has based his campaign on calling out Trump’s wrongdoings, but that strategy has yet to gain traction.
During the debate, Christie directly addressed Trump through the camera and taunted him with a professional wrestling-style insult: “Donald, I know you’re watching. You can’t help yourself! You’re not here tonight because you’re afraid of being on this stage and defending your record. You’re ducking these things, and let me tell you what’s going to happen.”
[Here it comes]
“You keep doing that, no one up here’s gonna call you Donald Trump anymore. We’re gonna call you Donald Duck.”
Moderator Dana Perino responded with, “Alright,” while the crowd laughed, cheered, booed, and groaned.
The debate also touched upon the auto-worker’s strike and critiques of the American economy. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum blamed the strike on Joe Biden, while Mike Pence delivered a zinger, stating, “Joe Biden doesn’t belong on a picket line, he belongs on the unemployment line.” However, another Pence joke about sleeping with a teacher fell flat.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, once seen as Trump’s closest rival, struggled to connect with the audience as candidates frequently talked over one another. Senator Tim Scott attacked Ramaswamy, who previously claimed his rivals were “bought and paid for.” Scott later criticized DeSantis for his controversial comments about race but followed it up by stating, “America is not a racist country.”
Despite the earnestness of Scott’s message, it was impossible not to think of Trump. In an alternate reality, a red-state candidate like Scott, Haley, or Burgum might have a chance at the GOP nomination. Fox Business, the network that broadcast the debate, seemed to capture this strange other world by playing retro Reagan clips during commercial breaks and airing ads featuring potential VP pick South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and a controversial ad about Mexican drug cartels.
Ultimately, the debate was seen as inconsequential, and Trump’s campaign affirmed this by describing it as “boring” and stating that nothing said would change the dynamics of the primary contest dominated by President Trump.
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