Insight: Determining the Winner of the Republican Debate

CNN Opinion asked political contributors to weigh in on the third Republican presidential debate of the 2024 race. The views expressed in these commentaries are their own.

Errol Louis: GOP candidates are ignoring the elephant in the room

Errol Louis

The contentious and combative final Republican presidential debate of 2023 showcased the candidates' willingness to engage in fierce personal attacks. It underscored that the nomination is Donald Trump's to lose, as the majority of his challengers appear hesitant to directly confront him.

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie set the tone early in the debate by immediately targeting Trump. "We need to speak the truth. He is not fit for this," he declared. "There is no greater concern in this election."

Despite Christie's lead, the three other candidates chose to attack each other instead of following his example.

"Nikki, you had no money when you left the UN," Vivek Ramaswamy accused Nikki Haley early in the debate, alleging that she has profited from her connections to large corporations since leaving the government. "You are corrupt."

To emphasize his point, Ramaswamy later displayed a notepad with "NIKKI = CORRUPT" written in large letters.

Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida also criticized Haley, claiming that she would prioritize the interests of her increasingly influential group of wealthy donors.

However, much like DeSantis and Ramaswamy, the previous governor of South Carolina never directly addressed Christie's accurate assessment of the former president and leading Republican candidate: "His behavior is unacceptable. He is not fit for office."

With a strong lead in Iowa, where caucus votes are just 40 days away, Trump has chosen to skip the debates, confident that his opponents would steer clear of mentioning him, whether in a positive or negative light.

Despite the insults and attacks, the candidates, excluding Christie, made a concerted effort to avoid provoking the front-runner. This was their singular achievement. Errol Louis serves as a political anchor for Spectrum News, a network encompassing various local news channels.

Geoff Duncan: Haleys success continues – but its far from enough

Geoff Duncan

CNN

Former US Ambassador Nikki Haley had been gaining momentum heading into Wednesday night's GOP fourth and final presidential debate, while former President Donald Trump remained the frontrunner despite his legal challenges. After the debate, it became clear that Haley understands ignoring Trump is not an option, and she is preparing to take him on. In two of the three early states, Haley has emerged as the clear second-place candidate to Trump. In Iowa, a Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa poll showed Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis tied at 16% after a 10-point surge from Haley, and Trump with a 27-point lead. In New Hampshire, a University of New Hampshire/CNN poll last month put Haley at 20% and DeSantis at 9%, while Trump led at 42%. In South Carolina, a CNN poll conducted by SSRS in October showed Trump at 53% and Haley at 22%, which was double her nearest competitor.

Haley's immediate success made her a target for criticism. She faced attacks from DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy, and also criticized Trump directly on issues important to GOP voters such as China and spending.

It's clear that Haley could do more to challenge Trump. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has been the most vocal in opposing the former president, calling him an "angry, bitter man" and criticizing his competitors for suggesting they would support a convicted Trump.

For Republicans to remove Trump from power, they need to unify the field and be prepared to challenge the frontrunner. At least one of those has been accomplished - the recent debate was much smaller than the previous one in 2015. Hopefully, this signals the beginning of the second requirement.

Geoff Duncan, a Republican and former CNN political contributor, served as Georgia's lieutenant governor from 2019 to 2023.

Kate Bedingfield: Biden got a lot of good fodder

Kate Bedingfield

(CNN)

The Biden campaign likely did not see anything in tonight's debate that would alter the likelihood of former President Donald Trump becoming the Republican nominee. However, what they did see was a Republican field that is avoiding addressing one of their major weaknesses in the general election: their stance on abortion bans. Despite this, there was no mention of this crucial issue in tonight's debate, even though it has been a defining topic in every election since the 2022 Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade. The Republicans may avoid talking about it in their primary debates, but they cannot ignore it when it comes to the ballot box.

The Biden campaign needs to address this omission, push the issue with the media, and demand that Republican candidates explain their extreme positions, citing their past votes and quotes supporting various bans. Throughout the evening, the campaign can also emphasize the message that the GOP belongs to Trump and that MAGA extremism is now a requirement to be a Republican.

Three out of the four candidates failed to speak out against Trump's declaration of being a dictator on his first day in office. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis even suggested that Trump didn't govern like a dictator and that as President, he would rectify that. Only former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie consistently voiced his opposition to Trump throughout the debate, but this doesn't appear to be affecting his popularity in a positive way.

For the Biden campaign, this debate provided valuable material to highlight the general election weaknesses of the Republicans and portray the GOP as extreme.

Kate Bedingfield served as White House communications director in the Biden administration and was the deputy campaign manager on Bidens 2020 presidential campaign.

Jill Filipovic: How Haley won the gender war

Jill Filipovic

Attributed to Jill Filipovic:

During the Republican presidential debate this Wednesday, one candidate stood out as the primary recipient of criticism. Surprisingly, it wasn't the clear frontrunner, former President Donald Trump, who chose not to attend. Instead, it was Nikki Haley, the former UN ambassador and former governor of South Carolina, who faced multiple verbal attacks from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and political newcomer Vivek Ramaswamy.

Haley is open to criticism as she is a presidential candidate. She is currently leading in New Hampshire and South Carolina, and is tied with DeSantis in Iowa. However, the criticism directed at her was not constructive but rather hostile, especially from DeSantis and Ramaswamy, who seemed to go after her personally. Ramaswamy was generally dismissive of everyone, but his animosity towards Haley was especially apparent, as he has been targeting her throughout his campaign.

Despite the constant criticism, Haley confidently held her ground on stage, choosing not to engage with Ramaswamy's attacks. The audience reacted with delight, laughing and applauding her response.

Haley faces a challenging task of presenting herself as a strong, conservative woman - a figure similar to Thatcher who gets things done - without being labeled as overly feminist, domineering, or strict. Her refusal to engage with Ramaswamy perfectly embodied this image: She appeared composed and above the fray, while he seemed like a petulant child being disregarded by the adults.

However, she was not the sole advocate in her defense. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who appears to be running with less ambition to win but more as a voice of anti-Trump reason, passionately defended Haley against Ramaswamy. This also had a gendered component: Christie assuming the role of a white knight, coming to Haley's defense. Maybe he would have done the same for any other respected politician, but the perception of Christie as a principled man would not have been as impactful.

Despite the female moderators and the civil treatment of powerful women, this GOP debate failed to represent the party's true views on women's rights, as the most notably sexist candidate was not present. On the other hand, it may suggest that the party has made progress in its treatment of individual powerful women. For instance, while Nikki Haley faced criticism, she was not subjected to the same level of hostility and condescension commonly seen against women in politics, particularly exemplified by Hillary Clinton's experience with Trump during the 2016 election.

Jill Filipovic is a journalist based in New York and author of the book "OK Boomer, Lets Talk: How My Generation Got Left Behind."

Patrick T. Brown: Calvin Coolidge? Really?

Patrick T. Brown

Patrick T. Brown, Courtesy

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had a strong debate performance on Wednesday night, but its impact on the campaign will ultimately be decided by the voters. He immediately challenged former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley on her stance regarding issues like gender transition surgeries for youth, and engaged in lively debates with former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy throughout the evening.

DeSantis' response to a moderator's question left me wondering how much he has absorbed from former President Donald Trump. When asked which president he would like to emulate, DeSantis veered away from the obvious choice of Ronald Reagan and instead mentioned Calvin Coolidge, a favorite of limited-government conservatives. "Silent Cal understood the proper role of the federal government," he stated.

While that may be true, a Coolidge-inspired approach to federal policy, one that prioritizes saying little and focusing on cutting spending, may be more fitting for the Republican Party of the tea party era than for Trump's bold and assertive vision.

Praising "Silent Cal" may impress conservative intellectuals, but it indicates that the Florida governor may remain too aligned with the pre-Trump establishment to attract the former president's followers.

Patrick T. Brown serves as a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, a conservative think tank and advocacy organization located in Washington, DC.

Roxanne Jones: Haleys war talk wont win her votes

Roxanne Jones

CNN

Nikki Haley has consistently been viewed as a down-to-earth presidential candidate during the GOP debates, and Wednesday night was no different. It's clear that this has contributed to her unexpected climb in national polls, putting her in competition with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for second place behind former President Donald Trump.

However, Haley's performance at the fourth and final GOP debate on Wednesday night at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa was disappointing. Her response to questions about war came across as ill-considered and extreme, causing her to lose credibility in the eyes of many.

Haley believes in sending troops to Mexico to eliminate the cartel and advocates for a more aggressive approach towards Iran, China, Ukraine, and Hamas in Gaza. She emphasizes the importance of a strong America and criticizes Joe Biden for projecting weakness. Despite her unwavering faith in the military, her calls for intervention seem out of touch with the growing reluctance towards military involvement globally. This is especially poignant for Haley, whose husband is currently deployed in Djibouti.

Haley has consistently demonstrated her sharp intellect and composure under pressure in every GOP debate. However, despite her ability to stand up to her critics, it remains uncertain whether her performance on Wednesday night was enough to sway Republican voters. Despite the bickering and insults, it appears that most GOP voters still favor Trump, who is polling at nearly 60% nationally, as their nominee. Roxanne Jones, CEO of the Push Marketing Group, provides weekly commentary on politics, sports, and culture on Philadelphias WURD radio.

Jeff Yang: All four candidates agree on whos Americas enemy No. 1

Jeff Yang

CNN

In the fourth and final GOP presidential debate Wednesday night, the candidates were visibly divided into two groups: the "Chaos candidates" on the left stage and the "Gravitas Grabbers" on the right stage. The Chaos candidates, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy, made bold and exaggerated claims, while the Gravitas Grabbers, former US ambassador Nikki Haley and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, aimed to appear mature and presidential by taking subtle jabs at former president Donald Trump. During the China-focused debate segment, DeSantis made a strong statement about China's influence in the world, emphasizing the need for the 21st century to be an American century rather than a Chinese one.

Ramaswamy accused Haley of being supported by those who "grovel to China" and defended his proposal to open a branch of the NRA in Taiwan and arm every citizen, a claim Christie mockingly dismissed by pointing out the US lack of constitutional authority over Taiwan to give them a Second Amendment. Christie then shifted to criticizing Trump's China tariffs for causing inflation.

Haley, on the other hand, spoke about her priorities to rein in China, which included winning the war in Ukraine, forming a pan-Asian regional alliance, and relocating strategic manufacturing to friendly countries. She also acknowledged the critical importance of China in the supply chains for masks and Covid testing, despite knowing this could be unpopular.

Regardless, all four individuals were in complete accord that China should be regarded as the primary enemy of America. With a considerable number of Democrats sharing this view, the onstage discussion may have made Asian American viewers somewhat uneasy, as it seemed to be a foretaste of the anti-China propaganda that will likely be used by members of both political parties to rally voters against a mutual adversary once election season kicks into high gear.

Carrie Sheffield: The thing that was lacking on the debate stage

Carrie Sheffield

Barry Morgenstein

The GOP debate on Wednesday lacked strong, positive voices, with candidates wasting energy attacking each other instead of critiquing progressivism and the Biden agenda. President Biden's low poll numbers reflect a dismal view of his governance, with inflation-fueled Bidenomics making home ownership unattainable for millions of Americans.

Reforming regulatory red tape could potentially lead to a significant expansion of the US economy, possibly by hundreds of billions of dollars each year according to some economists. However, the candidates fell short in presenting their own proactive strategies for achieving economic success.

The debate also included extensive discussion about Israel and Hamas, representing another missed opportunity. The candidates overlooked a valuable moment to connect with female voters by failing to address the hypocrisy of certain progressives who claim to support women while hesitating to protect Israeli women from rape. This was a prime opportunity for Republicans to demonstrate who truly supports women. It is conservatives who offer steadfast and unyielding dedication to safeguarding women from physical harm and sexual exploitation.

Rather than engaging in internal conflict, conservatives must display greater self-discipline and concentration in their opposition to Biden in order to defeat progressivism in 2024 and present a constructive vision of their beliefs, not just their oppositions.

Carrie Sheffield is a senior policy analyst at Independent Womens Voice.

Susanne Ramirez de Arellano: A Trump-like Republican response on immigration

Susanne Ramirez de Arellano

Vivek Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur, criticized President Joe Biden during the presidential debate on Wednesday, accusing him of displaying authoritarian tendencies. Ramaswamy declared, "Under Biden, we are heading towards fascism."

The statement was quite significant, especially considering that it came the day after a town hall in Iowa where the leading candidate for the Republican nomination, former President Donald Trump, declared that he would rule as a dictator from "day one" of a new presidential term. "We're shutting down the border and continuing to drill. After that, I'm not acting as a dictator," Trump announced.

Trump and his supporters have also indicated that they may consider reinstating his administration's policy of separating families at the US-Mexico border.

The term "dictator" carries weight for many, particularly Latino voters, evoking images of authoritarian leaders such as Chile's Augusto Pinochet, not an American president. Despite this, the candidates did not address Trump's comments, with Chris Christie simply labelling him as a dictator and ending the discussion.

At the Wednesday debate, the Republican candidates echoed Trump's stance on immigration, demonizing Latino immigrants and endorsing widespread deportations and increased border militarization. Ambassador Nikki Haley advocated for a "catch and deport" approach, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis proposed a policy of shooting undocumented immigrants on sight, regardless of their intentions. These extreme positions are unlikely to resonate with Latino voters and are not conducive to building support for the Republican presidential candidate.

The latest Axios-Ipsos Latino Poll, in partnership with Telemundo, revealed that 32% of participants believe that neither Democrats nor Republicans prioritize the concerns of Latinos. This finding underscores the significance for both political parties to court the support of this crucial voter demographic.

Republican contenders perceive that Latinos, a pivotal voting bloc, are defecting from the Democratic Party to align with the Republicans due to concerns about the Democratic Party's "wokeness" potentially leading to socialist authoritarianism.

Nonpartisan and unaffiliated Latino voters, many of them young, are quickly becoming one of the biggest swing voter groups in the upcoming elections. Wednesday night's debate did little to convince them - or other Latinos - that the Republican candidates or the party as a whole have their best interests in mind. Susanne Ramirez de Arellano, a writer and cultural critic, previously served as news director for Univision Puerto Rico.

W. James Antle III: The sound and the fury of Christies attacks

W. James Antle III

Courtesy W. James Antle III

Chris Christie received high praise for his bold performance in the fourth Republican presidential debate. The former New Jersey governor has focused on confronting former President Donald Trump, who has not participated in any debates. However, during this debate, he was unable to challenge moderator Megyn Kelly's point that criticizing Trump has not reduced his popularity among Republicans.

Christie may have harmed his own reputation, but he seemed to acknowledge the truth of the matter. "It's often very difficult to be the only person on the stage who's telling the truth," he said, urging fellow candidates with higher poll numbers to consider joining him in confronting Trump, whether their future aspirations are immediate or years down the road.

Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley are currently in a heated competition for second place, and they will need to find a solution to this dilemma. It is evident that launching a Christie-style direct attack on Trump is not a winning strategy in a Republican primary.

However, in order to defeat Trump, they will need to devise a strategy to run against him. Their indirect criticisms of "chaos" or the former president's age have only taken them so far.

Despite the candidates' complaints about the polls, they have the ability to interpret them just like anyone else. W. James Antle III is the politics editor of the Washington Examiner and the author of "Devouring Freedom: Can Government Ever Be Stopped?"

Lanhee J. Chen: Voters are looking for health care solutions. The GOP contenders came up short.

Lanhee J. Chen

Lanhee J. Chen/ECG Studios, LLC

Health care was not a topic of discussion until the end of Wednesday's presidential debate, but it has the potential to trouble Republicans well into the general election in November next year. The 2024 campaign has placed a significant focus on this issue and has been the subject of criticism from President Joe Biden and his supporters after former President Donald Trump announced last week that he would eliminate Obamacare if re-elected.

None of the responses from the GOP presidential candidates so far should reassure Republican voters that their nominee, whether it is Trump or one of the contenders on the debate stage, will be prepared to effectively counter those attacks.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis pledged to present a superior option to Obamacare, yet he did not offer specific details on how he would reduce healthcare expenses, which have risen since the implementation of Obamacare in 2010. He also did not seem capable of providing consumers with more options, a limitation that the law has imposed.

Vivek Ramaswamy raised legitimate concerns about the lack of transparency in our healthcare system, but he did not propose concrete solutions to address this issue. Additionally, his endorsement of unfounded conspiracy theories detracted from any valid points he may have made.

Republican candidates should quickly educate themselves on health care issues. There are numerous conservative policy analysts and thinkers who have proposed market-based reforms to expand incentives for health savings, enhance transparency in health spending, and reduce costs. These reforms could significantly improve the health system in ways that Obamacare cannot.