Second GOP presidential debate: Rivals gang up on Trump, Haley takes on Ramaswamy

| TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Sep 28, 2023, 18:53 IST

Donald Trump's Republican rivals clashed at a chaotic second GOP presidential debate in California, leveling attacks at the absent former president, Democratic President Joe Biden and one another over issues from China to immigration to the economy.
Rivals gang up on Trump

3 excerpts

In a departure from the first debate, when the candidates mostly lined up behind the former president, most of the candidates this time shot from the hip regrading Trump's absence and his legal problems.
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who has built his campaign around criticising Trump, said the former president “hides behind the walls of his golf clubs and won’t show up here to answer questions like all the rest of us are up here to answer".
Even Vivek Ramaswamy, the Indian-American entrepreneur who has declared Trump to be the “best president of the 21st century,” distanced himself and argued he was a natural successor.

2 video moments

Donald, I know you’re watching. You can’t help yourself ... You’re ducking these things. And let me tell you what’s going to happen. You keep doing that, no one here’s going to call you Donald Trump anymore. We’re going to call you Donald Duck: Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

Trump should be on this stage tonight ... He owes it to the voters to defend his record where they added $7.8 trillion to the debt. That set the stage for the inflation we have now: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

1 insight

The seven candidates -- urgently trying to dent the former president's commanding primary lead -- often went after Trump on their own without being prompted, hoping to distinguish themselves at a critical moment with less than four months before the Iowa caucuses launch the Republican presidential nomination process. Trump has continued to dominate the field even as he faces a range of vulnerabilities, including four criminal cases that raise the prospect of decades in prison.

Nikki vs Ramaswamy

3 excerpts

Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley picked multiple fights with Ramaswamy during the debate, as she did in August. She assailed him for creating a campaign account on TikTok, the social media app that many Republicans criticise as a possible spy tool for China.
Ramaswamy defended himself for opening a TikTok account, saying if Republicans wanted to win the 2024 polls, they need to reach out to “the next generation of young Americans where they are”.
Ramaswamy said the Democrats were "running rampant, reaching the next generation 3 to 1" and that he is the only Republican talking about reaching young people.

2 video moments

Honestly, every time I hear you [Ramaswamy], I feel a little bit dumber for what you say. This is infuriating because TikTok is one of the most dangerous social media apps we could have ... We can't trust you. We can't trust you. We can't have TikTok in our kids' lives: Haley.

I think we will be better served as a Republican party if we are not sitting here hurling personal insults and actually have a legitimate debate about policy following Reagan’s example and in his honor: Ramaswamy in response to Haley's attack.

1 insight

The popularity of both the Indian-American candidates has been on the rise since the first debate. Haley and Ramaswamy have been making campaign stops in the early primary and caucus states. The two have also released their economic and energy policies. While Trump remains the forerunner for the Republican nomination with over 50% support, Ramaswamy is at 13% followed closely by Haley at 12%.

Nikki Haley shines3 excerpts

Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador, drew larger crowds and new interest after the first debate.
Following the second debate, the Haley Campaign said she didn't shy away from pointing out her opponents' dangerous policies, including Vivek Ramaswamy's support for TikTok, Trump's failure to prioritise the larger Chinese threat, and Ron DeSantis' ban on fracking and offshore drilling.
Haley also fought with Sen. Tim Scott, her fellow South Carolinian and once her pick to fill the state’s open Senate seat. As Scott accused Haley of backing a gas tax as South Carolina governor and upgrading the curtains in her office as United Nations ambassador, Haley responded, “Bring it, Tim.”

Top Comment

Bala Srinivasan

420 days ago

Nikki Haley is correct about Ramaswamy a snake oil salesman.He is corrupt double dealing kleptocrat with CHINESE dealings.

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