My take is similar to the last couple of debates. We can discuss who did best, and how it will affect the campaigns of the candidates who were on the on stage tonight, but it’s hard to see how anything that happened tonight could change the overall trajectory of a race in which Trump is roughly 30 points ahead even in his worse early states. For somebody other than Trump to win, either the polls would have to be way off, or there would have to be an earthquake. We did not get an earthquake tonight.
Regarding Christie: There is something admirable about being willing to tell an audience exactly what it doesn’t want to hear.
DeSantis closes with his strongest suit: he’ll fight, he won’t back down from any battles, he’s the guy who will stand in and take it.
Ron DeSantis just walked up to Christie and gave him a slap on the back and a smile. I think they enjoyed that.
Look at the bright side, America. We don’t have to sit through another one of these until 2024 — assuming there are additional primary debates.
DeSantis’ best debate. Not sure the dynamics will change. Hard to know whether the live audience matters anymore in a time of viral clip sharing.
Haley with a strong closing that gets to why people vote for parties of the right: “You can’t defeat Democrat chaos with Republican chaos.”
Haley explicitly promising to be the no-drama candidate. Embracing her core appeal, as it were.
Vivek, closing what is probably the last debate: climate change policy is a hoax.
Christie closes with a ‘boo, you cowards’ argument that Trump will be in jail by Election Day 2024.