On Politics

Thu Dec 7 2023

Marina Pitofsky | Associate Editor/Politics

Hi OnPolitics readers! Four Republican presidential candidates faced off in Alabama last night in the latest GOP primary debate.

But did it move the needle for the crowded Republican field? Here's a look at the top takeaways from the showdown, which former President Donald Trump skipped.

Haley hits back at attacks: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy quickly hit out at former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. The strategy comes has Haley's campaign has made progress in crucial early voting states.

'Obnoxious blowhard': If Republican voters tuned into the debate for a genteel exchange of ideas, they didn't get it. The GOP contenders spent much of the two-hour debate throwing insults on each other's intelligence, weight and backgrounds, USA TODAY's Rachel Looker and Phillip M. Bailey reported.

Trump remained a presence: Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie scolded his opponents for not taking the Republican frontrunner to task. Ramaswamy, who has touted himself as Trump 2.0, said all three of his opponents on stage "have been licking Donald Trump's boots" for money and endorsements, but are now conveniently questioning his decision-making as president.

'They're just jealous': 5 takeaways as Haley holds spotlight, focus of attacks in 4th GOP debate

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