With former President Donald Trump missing Wednesday night’s Republican presidential debate, the eight candidates who took the stage had a chance to shine and make up a 40-point gap in the polls over the 77-year-old favorite.
Unfortunately for them, the experts consulted by The Post agreed, no one did enough in Milwaukee to change the dynamics of the race.
“Every candidate was looking for a breakthrough moment and they didn’t get it,” said former Westchester County executive and Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino.
“Donald Trump was not there,” he added. “That’s like watching the Kansas City Chiefs without Patrick Mahomes. The star was not there.
The candidate who came into the night with the highest expectations was Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who in polls ranks a solid (albeit distant) second behind Trump in most national polls.
“DeSantis hit fly balls close to the fence,” Astorino said of the former college baseball player. “He was trying to hit home runs. I don’t think he had a great performance. He wasn’t attacked much. He is still a viable candidate.”
Republican political consultant Rob Ryan agreed, telling The Post that DeSantis “had all the charm of a New Jersey state trooper shining his flashlight in your eyes at 1 a.m. He didn’t really seem to connect.”
Former President Donald Trump was missed in the first Republican presidential debate, experts say.AP
The candidate who came into the night with the highest expectations was Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who in polls ranks a solid (if distant) second behind Trump in most national polls.Getty Images
Former Sen. Alfonse D’Amato disagreed, saying DeSantis “was excellent. He was right not to back down on the teachers’ union. He was right on the border ”.
The most polarizing candidate of the night was Vivek Ramaswamy, who in turn was attacked by former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former Vice President Mike Pence and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley over issues including clemency for Trump if convicted. of some charge. of the four pending criminal cases against him and the continuation of military aid to Ukraine.
“Vivek is very smart, but he overstepped it,” D’Amato said. “He was a braggart, but he made his name known.”
“Vivek Ramaswamy started off strong, but then he seemed too smug, too simplistic,” Ryan said. “He had the arrogance of a billionaire, like Elon Musk.”
The most polarizing candidate of the night was Vivek Ramaswamy, who was attacked by several other candidates.Getty Images
Astorino gave the 38-year-old the biggest endorsement, saying he “had a good night.”
“I was encouraged. He got a lot of attention,” he added. “He took a lot of arrows, which means that people see him as a threat.”
Democratic consultant Hank Sheinkopf told The Post that Ramaswamy was the only candidate on stage who didn’t appear “boring,” which wasn’t necessarily a compliment.
“Vivek was vivid, but he’s not going anywhere. The next stop for him is oblivion,” Sheinkopf said. “A guy who lifts weights and attacks Israel is someone people are paying attention to? Is that the best the Republican Party has got? That’s all?”
Democratic consultant Hank Sheinkopf told The Post that Ramaswamy was the only candidate on stage who didn’t appear “boring,” which wasn’t necessarily a compliment. REUTERS
Of the other candidates on the stage, Republican consultant Ryan was most impressed with Haley (“It will be interesting if he gets more support from women”) and Pence.
“The best thing for Mike Pence was when everyone said he did the right thing on January 6 and rejected Trump’s attempt to not certify the 2020 election,” he said. “We may see a promotion for Pence based on what other people have said about him.”
Astorino disagreed, saying Pence “went from a simmer to a low flame. He’s just not excitable.”
“I thought Tim Scott was good at economics and had a strong military,” D’Amato said. “I don’t think Mike Pence distinguished himself during the debate and Chris Christie didn’t help himself. Nikki Haley didn’t help herself much.”
Astorino disagreed, saying Pence “went from a simmer to a low flame. He’s just not excitable.” PA
Ryan said the former New Jersey governor “was an attack dog, he always is, but I don’t know if that helped him,” while Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) “wasn’t dynamic enough.”
The six candidates our pundits reference are likely to hit the debate stage next month in Simi Valley, California.
The big question is whether anyone else will feel the need to join them.
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