Candidates Spar Sans Trump at First GOP Presidential Debate

Facts

On Wednesday, eight candidates for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination – sans former Pres. Donald Trump, who is leading the polls – participated in the first debate of the campaign season, with less than five months before the nomination process begins.¹
The eight participants were former Trump VP Mike Pence, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.²
The candidates were required to sign a pledge that they would support the GOP nominee in the general election, and all but Christie and Hutchinson said they would support Trump even if he’s convicted of a felony before Election Day.³
DeSantis, who is leading just behind Trump in the polls, appeared to hesitate before raising his hand when the question about supporting a convicted Trump was asked.⁴
Other debate topics included funding for Ukraine, climate change, and government spending – which led to a heated verbal exchange between Pence and Ramaswamy, with the former criticizing the latter’s lack of political experience.⁵
Meanwhile, Trump – who has been indicted in four criminal cases – is expected to turn himself in for booking in Georgia on Thursday in that state’s case over his actions following the 2020 presidential election.¹

Democratic narrative, as provided by Vox. This debate proved that Trump is the Republican Party, and at the end of the day, there’s no way to distinguish between the two. Even when given a chance to disavow support for Trump if he becomes a convicted felon, most of the eight people on stage chose fealty to the frontrunner. They never challenged him and instead attacked each other, leaving the door open for Trump to dominate the party.
Republican narrative, as provided by Daily Caller. A talented crop of candidates – and alternatives to Trump – was on display in the debate. Each one played to his or her strengths and presented a vision of the future, unlike Trump, who’s seemingly stuck in 2020. If Trump thought he was wise to skip the debate, he was proven wrong.
Pro-Trump narrative, as provided by Daily Mail. This debate — resembling a Trump vice president audition — was a waste of time. Trump already has the nomination in the bag, so the donors should keep their money, and the party should rally around the former president. Given the rift between Fox News and the former president, skipping the debate was a no-brainer for the runaway frontrunner.