GOP debate recap: Who won and who lost in second Republican showdown
Debate descends into chaos as moderators lose control over candidates far behind Trump in the polls
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Your support makes all the difference.The second Republican debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, descended into chaos on several occasions with candidates speaking over each other.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum all took part.
Much like in the first debate, Mr Ramaswamy quickly became the focus of the attacks of the other candidates on Wednesday night as he was slammed for his voting record and alleged business connections to China.
Several candidates called out former President Donald Trump for not attending the showdown to instead speaking to auto workers in Michigan, where he said none of those running would be his VP candidate.
Several shouting matches broke out during the roughly two hours of debating on Fox Business as the moderators lost control while the candidates appeared desperate to get their lines in.
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie called out Mr Trump directly to the camera and was later mocked for calling him “Donald Duck” for ducking the debate.
Who won the second Republican debate?
Awkward laughter as Mike Pence makes sex joke at Republican debate
GOP debate turns chaotic as candidates turn on Ramaswamy over China, voting and border
Chris Christie mocked for ‘Donald Duck’ nickname for Trump: ‘New levels of cringe’
DeSantis hits out at Trump for not attending GOP debate: ‘Missing in action’
DeSantis remains bullish as Fox News host calls out 37-point poll gap to Trump
Ron DeSantis has refused to throw in the towel on his campaign to be the Republican pick for the next election, despite being given a sober look at the current polling numbers.
The governor of Florida was informed by Laura Ingraham on the right-wing Fox News network that he faces a 37-point deficit to Donald Trump in one early primary state.
On her show, Ms Ingraham said: “Now, governor, the latest CBS poll out of New Hampshire shows that you’re in second, albeit a distant second behind Trump ... You’re at 13 per cent, he’s at 50 per cent.”
Continued...
DeSantis says campaign is not over as Fox host reveals 37-point poll gap to Trump
Despite trailing in the polls, Ron Desantis says he has not given up hope
Watch: Biden airs 2024 campaign ad ahead of GOP debate on Fox News
Unexpected debate moment: Mike Pence makes sex joke
Former Vice President Mike Pence made an awkward joke about “sleeping with a teacher for 38 years” after former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie commented on the marriage of President Joe Biden.
It was unexpected, to say the least (and should be included in future debate drinking games).
Gustaf Kilander has the full details.
Awkward laughter as Mike Pence makes sex joke at Republican debate
‘My wife isn’t a member of the teachers’ union, but I gotta admit I have been sleeping with a teacher for 38 years,’ ex-VP says
Watch: Newsom not convinced he even saw next vice presidential nominee on stage
Voices: Inside the madness of the Republican presidential debate
Comedian Jay Black descends into the chaos and mud-slinging of the latest interminable GOP debate. Here’s his minute-by-minute account of the highs, lows, and super-lows of the evening and why you’re seeing Donald Duck all over the internet today.
Inside the madness of the Republican presidential debate | Jay Black
From Donald Trump to Donald Duck, join comedian Jay Black as he descends into the chaos and mud-slinging of the latest interminable GOP debate...
‘New levels of cringe’: Christie mocked for ‘Donald Duck’ nickname for Trump
Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie was mocked online on Wednesday evening after he attempted during the second presidential debate to give Donald Trump a new nickname: “Donald Duck.”
“I want to look in that camera now and tell you, Donald, I know you’re watching, you can’t help yourself.,” Mr Christie said. “You’re not here tonight, not because of polls and not because of your indictments. You’re not here tonight because you’re afraid of being on this stage and defending your record. You’re ducking these things.”
“Let me tell you what’s going to happen,” he continued. “You keep doing that, and no one up here is going to call you Donald Trump anymore. We’re gonna call you Donald Duck.”
The comments — met with a mix of cheers and boos in the debate hall — were mocked online.
Watch: South Carolina showdown between Haley and Scott
Senator Tim Scott and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley went head to head on Wednesday night over [checks notes]... curtains.
The two South Carolina Republicans faced off over the implementation of a gas tax and the State Department’s purchase of new drapes for Ms Haley’s official residence near the United Nations in New York.
Biden campaign trolls Trump’s Michigan event by buying up ads on Fox News
President Joe Biden’s campaign sought to troll Donald Trump and the Republican party, after buying up advertising space on major US television networks before and during Wednesday night’s GOP candidate debate.
The two 30-second ads, one of which takes aim at Mr Trump and the other targeting voters in the Latino community, will be shown simultaneously on Fox News and Univision from 9pm eastern time.
The Daily Beast was first to report on the strategic placement of the advertisements.
Mike Bedigan reports.
Biden campaign trolls Trump event by buying up ads on Fox News
The two 30-second ads, one of which takes aim at the ex-president and the other targeting voters in the Latino community, were being shown simultaneously on Fox News and Univision from 9pm eastern time
Biden applauded for three word takedown of GOP debate
Joe Biden mocked the second GOP debate with a three-word takedown of leading Republican candidate Donald Trump, who did not even bother to show up for it.
The president took to X, the social media platform formally known as Twitter, to repost a video of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis complaining that Mr Trump had again refused to debate his 2024 rivals.
“[Donald Trump] owes it to you to defend his record where they added 7.8 trillion to the debt. That set the stage for the inflation that we have now,” Mr DeSantis said on the stage on Wednesday night. “Couldn’t agree more,” Mr Biden’s personal account wrote above the video.
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