Ramaswamy Wins 1st Republican Debate
Vivek Ramaswamy, feared by other candidates, came under attack but strongly held his ground.
Fox News hosted the debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Martha MacCallum and Bret Baier were the moderators.
CANDIDATES
Vivek Ramaswamy (billionaire)
Nikki Haley (ex-Ambassador to UN)
Mike Pence (ex-Vice President under Trump)
Chris Christie (Governor of New Jersey)
Ron DeSantis (Governor of Florida)
Tim Scott (Senator from South Carolina)
Asa Hutchinson (ex-Governor of Arkansas)
Doug Burgum (Governor of North Dakota)
Francis Suarez, Perry Johnson, and Larry Elder never qualified for the debate.
BEST QUOTE
Ramaswamy: “I find it offensive that we have professional politicians on the stage that will make a pilgrimage to Kyiv to their Pope Zelenskyy without doing the same thing for people in Maui or the South Side of Chicago or Kensington. I think we have to put the interests of Americans first, secure our own border instead of somebody else’s.”
HIGHLIGHTS
I doubt Trump would have fared as well as he had previously. Maybe he realised that, instead choosing to be on a strategically scheduled release of Tucker on Twitter. Without Trump as the main character, the debate gave a better view of the other candidates.
Trump wasn’t attacked which was predictable but insincere considering his major lead in the polls. But he was mentioned a few times, and Ramaswamy defended him the loudest, accusing Christie of “blindly bashing Trump without an iota of vision for this country.”
Christie, Scott, Haley, DeSantis and Burgum supported Pence’s actions on 6 January 2021.
When asked if they would support Trump if he’s convicted and becomes the Republican’s nomination for President. Vivek was the quickest to raise his hand. Hutchinson was the only one who didn’t. Christie only half raised his, seemingly giving into peer group pressure and not intent.
Haley accused DeSantis, Pence and Scott of voting for increasing the national debt during their terms in office. "I think it's time for an accountant in the White House," she said.
Ramaswamy and DeSantis were against funding Ukraine.
Despite being punched the most, the biggest winner was quick-thinking Ramaswamy. Nikki Haley was runner-up. The biggest loser was DeSantis.
CLIPS
DISCLAIMER
I’m not from the USA, but always interested because what happens their affects our world.
I’m not liberal or conservative, rather believing in whatever sanity meets the moment. Consequently, I don’t support the Republicans or the Democrats. I appreciate whenever one of them dishes dirt on the other, weakening dirty politics and the false marketing of exceptionalism.
I’m biased towards the topics of freedom and whatever ends the war in Ukraine.