Another Republican debate without the 2024 front-runner and former President Donald Trump means another debate with a runner-up, The Post experts agreed Wednesday.
“They’re all in trouble because of Trump,” said former Sen. Alfonse D’Amato (R-NY). “Trump is smart not to go. The debate is a circus. Nobody really scored on him.”
“Without Trump there, it’s really like the seven dwarfs missing their hero,” agreed Democratic consultant Chris Coffey. “No clear win is a win for Trump, which is probably a win for Biden.”
“There is no impact on President Trump’s candidacy,” said E. O’Brien Murray, a campaign strategist for conservative Republicans and Democrats. “Too many GOP candidates are splitting the vote.”
While the dynamics of the race may not have fundamentally changed, our experts note the attack on Trump as “missing in action” by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during the second Republican presidential primary debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, on September 27, 2023. AFP via Getty Images
“I was surprised to see DeSantis go after Trump,” Murray admitted. “He used to avoid that. Going after Trump makes his supporters less likely to support you. Chris Christie continues on this and he is not moving in the polls.”
“DeSantis had his best debate, but was it too little too late?” thought Coffey. “Is it enough to change course? It’s hard to say.”
The Post panel was also full of praise for former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who engaged with DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) on energy, TikTok and the economy, respectively.
Senator Tim Scott and former Vice President Mike Pence discuss issues during the second debate of the Republican candidates for the 2024 presidential campaign at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, September 27, 2023. REUTERS
“Nikki Haley made it loud a few minutes,” Murray said, while GOP negotiator Rob Ryan said the former ambassador to the United Nations “looks and sounds like the president.”
“Haley looked strong for a lot of the debate, even if the fight with Tim Scott wasn’t necessary,” agreed Coffey, while D’Amato disagreed, saying Haley was “trying too hard to be number two. She was a little too aggressive. I think that was a mistake.”
Scott’s performance also drew praise from Ryan, who said the Republican senator “showed the most improvement from the first debate.”
Former President Trump prepares to address auto workers as he skips the second GOP debate, in Clinton Township, Mich., on September 27, 2023. REUTERS
“Scott in the first debate lacked enthusiasm. In this debate he has passion,” Ryan added, before noting that the clash between the two Palmetto Staters showed “they realize they have to take each other out to have a chance. One of them has to win South Carolina.”
“Tim Scott does a good job when he talks about racism and how America has made great strides,” agreed D’Amato. “I think he helped himself.”
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are eyeing each other during a debate between the two Republican candidates for the 2024 presidential campaign. REUTERS
Verdicts on Christie ranged from “pretty good” (D’Amato) to “good” (Coffey).
“Christie going after Trump is fun to watch, but it’s hard to say if it helps with Republican primary voters,” Coffey said. “Watch out in the general election, when Dems and Biden supporters will be happy to play the ‘Donald Duck’ line about Trump over and over again.”
After an eye-catching performance in the first debate, the panelists agreed that Ramaswamy had a bad night, with Murray saying he “had a chance to shine, but fell short. His reaction to the attack just makes me wonder why they wasted precious time attacking him .”
“Vivek identified his fault, but he didn’t do anything to fix it,” said Ryan, who added that the 38-year-old “also needs a haircut. The pompadour is a little distracting.”
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie spoke directly to former President Trump via television camera during the second debate of the Republican candidates for the 2024 presidential campaign. REUTERS
“Vivek seems so unlikable, fake, smart, annoying,” says Coffey. “Nikki Haley is right. We are all dumber for listening to Vivek.”
The Democratic negotiator also described Mike Pence’s efforts as “useless”: “The people in the room didn’t like him and his lines missed. None of his applause lines landed. Sometimes the dog doesn’t like dog food.”
In the end, sums up Murray, “Reagan’s 11th commandment [‘Thou shalt not speak ill of a fellow Republican‘] spoken but not followed. More attacks on President Biden and even the vice president would be better than cross talk and attacks on other GOP candidates.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
