The 2024 Republican Primary: A Look at the Third Debate
As the 2024 Republican primary approaches, the talking points from previous GOP nominating contests continue to shape the debate. The third debate, held in Miami, featured five candidates and was notably absent of former President Donald Trump. However, Trump’s influence was felt as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley made their cases for why Republican voters should deny Trump a third presidential nomination.
In the opening volleys of the debate, DeSantis and Haley both argued that Trump has changed since his first campaign in 2016, pointing to unfulfilled promises and the need for new leadership. Haley, who served as Trump’s top diplomat at the United Nations, stated that “we can’t live in the past” and emphasized the importance of moving forward.
“I can tell you that I think he was the right president at the right time,” said the woman who served as Trump’s top diplomat at the United Nations. “We can’t live in the past”
Foreign Policy and Key Takeaways
One of the central themes of the debate was foreign policy. The candidates largely aligned in their support for Israel during its conflict with Hamas. However, they diverged on the issue of Ukraine and Russia’s aggression. Tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy strongly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and accused the country of harboring anti-democratic beliefs. Haley and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie expressed concerns over the potential impact of such leadership on global relations.
DeSantis and Senator Tim Scott shifted the conversation to the US-Mexico border, raising doubts about continuing support for Ukraine. This highlighted the differing views within the Republican party on foreign policy.
Ramaswamy’s Bold Statements
Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur, made waves with his confrontational style. From the start of the debate, he targeted various individuals, including the media, Haley, debate moderators, Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, DeSantis, and even the governor’s boots. Ramaswamy positioned himself as an “America First” candidate and criticized Haley’s foreign policy approach.
In a fiery exchange, Ramaswamy urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take decisive action against terrorists on the southern border while advocating for strong action to address security concerns at the US-Mexico border. He took a swipe at Haley’s foreign policy and humorously referred to DeSantis and another candidate as “Dick Cheney in 3-inch heels.”
Read More of this Story at www.cnn.com – 2023-11-09 03:38:00
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