Rivals spar in the third Republican debate as they aim to challenge former President Donald Trump’s lead.
Miami, Nov 9: In the third Republican presidential debate, contenders aimed to make their case to voters and challenge former President Donald Trump’s lead in the race. While the absence of the former president was conspicuous, the event did not seem to alter the dynamics of the race, which Trump has dominated for months.
The debate featured five candidates: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, U.S. Senator Tim Scott, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. While they briefly criticized Trump, the contenders spent much of the two-hour event attacking each other as they vied for the position of Trump’s chief opponent, with less than ten weeks remaining until the first statewide nominating contest in Iowa.
Trump held a rival event nearby, where he criticized the debate participants and called on the Republican Party to stop “wasting time” with “unwatchable” debates.
Despite some contentious moments during the debate, it did not appear to change the trajectory of the race, with Trump still exerting a commanding lead. This dynamic could continue in the next debate scheduled for December 6 in Alabama.
The debate began with moderators asking the candidates to explain why they should be the party’s standard-bearer instead of Trump. DeSantis criticized Trump for skipping the event, suggesting that the party’s poor showing in recent off-year elections should be attributed to Trump’s leadership.
Haley offered a more measured critique of the former president, stating, “I don’t think he’s the right president now,” while acknowledging his past role.
While the candidates largely avoided attacking Trump during the debate, they directed their criticism at Democratic President Joe Biden, particularly during a segment on foreign policy and the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Republican candidates expressed unconditional support for Israel and criticized Biden’s handling of the crisis.
During the debate, the candidates pledged to take a strong stance on foreign policy, including punishing Hamas sympathizers at home. DeSantis, for instance, promised to deport any foreign national students expressing support for Hamas.
The candidates also addressed the issue of abortion, seeking a winning message on a topic that has been contentious within the party since the Supreme Court eliminated a nationwide right to abortion. Scott expressed support for a federal 15-week abortion ban, while Haley and Christie discussed raising the retirement age for Social Security benefits to keep the program solvent. DeSantis emphasized his support for a “culture of life.”
As the race continues, the Republican candidates are navigating the delicate task of distinguishing themselves from Trump while not alienating his dedicated voter base.
The focus on the debate’s key issues, Trump’s influence, foreign policy, and abortion, reflects the party’s efforts to address voter concerns and solidify their positions in a crowded field as the race intensifies.
Where to watch the debate?
You can watch the debate live on NBC and the NBC News Now streaming service.
Who are the Republican candidates participating in the debate?
In a bid to challenge former President Donald Trump’s stronghold on the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential race, five GOP candidates participated in their third debate. The event, which took place in Miami, attracted significant attention, even though the former president was notably absent.
The candidates participating in the debate are:
- Chris Christie: The former governor of New Jersey and federal prosecutor is known for his vocal criticism of Donald Trump. Christie, at 61 years old, is a staunch advocate for abortion restrictions and has expressed support for U.S. aid to Ukraine and Israel. Despite his previous association with Trump, he distanced himself from the former president after the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot.
- Ron DeSantis: As the Governor of Florida, DeSantis has positioned himself to the right of Trump on many social issues, particularly abortion. However, despite a well-funded campaign, DeSantis has struggled to gain momentum. He remains nearly 40 percentage points behind Trump in opinion polls. Nevertheless, he remains focused on Iowa, where the first nominating contest will be held in January.
- Nikki Haley: With a reputation for being a solid conservative who can address issues related to gender and race effectively, Nikki Haley is a former South Carolina governor and Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations. She emphasizes her relative youth compared to Biden and Trump and her background as the daughter of Indian immigrants.
- Vivek Ramaswamy: A former biotechnology investor and executive, Ramaswamy, aged 38, is a political outsider who started a company to pressure firms to abandon environmental, social, and corporate governance initiatives. He initially faced criticism for his stance on U.S. military aid to Israel but later clarified his position.
- Tim Scott: The only Black Republican senator, Tim Scott, has been serving as a U.S. senator for South Carolina since 2013. He is known for his optimistic and unifying approach within the divided Republican party.
During the debate, the candidates directed most of their criticisms toward each other as they competed to emerge as the top challenger to Trump, who has maintained a commanding lead in opinion polls.
Issues discussed during the debate included TikTok bans, foreign policy, and the Israel-Hamas conflict. All the candidates expressed unconditional support for Israel and criticized President Biden’s handling of the recent crisis.
The candidates also addressed the abortion issue, with some supporting a federal 15-week ban, and others discussing plans to raise the retirement age for Social Security benefits for younger workers.
Despite the spirited debate, it remains to be seen whether these candidates can effectively challenge Trump’s dominance in the race. Trump, who is focused on a potential rematch with Joe Biden in 2024, continues to maintain a firm grip on the Republican base.
The candidates will have another opportunity to make their case on December 6, when a fourth debate is scheduled to take place in Alabama.
As the primary season approaches, the Republican nomination race promises to be a closely watched and fiercely contested battle.