Republican debate highlights and analysis: Candidates squabble in Simi Valley
2024 hopefuls argued over education, spending and border security.
The second Republican debate of the 2024 presidential primary, taking place at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, has just come to an end.
The affair was more raucous than the first debate, which took place over a month ago. Candidates interrupted one another much more regularly and several — most notably former Vice President Mike Pence and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie — have directly criticized front-runner Donald Trump, who elected not to show up tonight. The two candidates from South Carolina, former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley and Sen. Tim Scott, went after one another for their records on spending, and seemingly everyone who had the chance to take a shot at entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy did so.
Read below for highlights, excerpts and key moments.
Latest headlines:
- South Carolina on South Carolina: Nikki Haley and Tim Scott spar several times on stage
- Brief debate answers on Ukraine reveal a rift among Republicans over the issue
- Survivor, GOP primary edition?
- Pence seems to be playing out the string
- Ramaswamy and Scott's debate over birthright citizenship devolves into chaotic exchange
Americans of both parties don’t expect the national deficit to shrink, according to a June poll from the Pew Research Center. Seventy percent of respondents said they expected the annual deficit to grow in the next five years, including 80 percent of Republicans and 61 percent of Democrats. Just 11 percent of respondents said they thought the deficit would be smaller in five years, including 9 percent of Republicans and 14 percent of Democrats.
—Analysis by 538
Pence seems to be playing out the string
A couple times tonight, Pence has made the case for a conservative, small-government focused GOP. But as evidenced by the crickets on his initial joke at the start of the debate, there just doesn't seem to be much appetite for him in the Trumpified Republican Party. This isn't a surprise really, given he started the campaign already a villain to many Republicans because Trump had blamed him for his defeat because Pence didn't try to block certification of Biden's victory. But Pence finds himself on the edge of the stage tonight because of his low polling level, and there has really been no good polling news for him recently. His horserace numbers are flat or going down and his favorability numbers among Republicans have worsened, with only Christie having more negative ratings. When might Pence actually leave the race? No idea. But in a field full of candidates who are struggling to have a path to winning, Pence is among those with the least signs of hope.
— Analysis by Geoffrey Skelley of 538
That's a rehearsed line from DeSantis on oil drilling locations if I ever heard one.
-Jacob Rubashkin, 538
Brief debate answers on Ukraine reveal a rift among Republicans over the issue
The issue of supplying aid to Ukraine as the country remains invaded by Russia has been a major source of contention among the Republican party, even holding up budget negotiations as Congress barrels toward a government shutdown.
A few answers from the GOP candidates at the debate displayed the variety of opinion among the primary field. Christie, who shares the belief of establishment Republicans, spoke about his unrelenting support for Ukraine aid.
“That was the darkest moment in world history when the Soviet Union fell. Listen, everybody, [Putin] wants to put the old band back together, and only America can stop it,” said Christie, who noted that American leadership on the conflict could display strength in other areas of foreign policy.
“Ukraine – that's a green light to China,” Christie said. “They're all connected, Stuart. They're all connected. The Chinese are paying for the Russian war in Ukraine, the Iranians who supply more sophisticated weapons, and so are the North Koreans now as well, with the encouragement of the Chinese.
Christie bashed some of his primary challengers for their opposing views: “the naivete on the stage from some of these folks is extraordinary.”
DeSantis, like the right flank of the party, said he would not embrace continually funding the “territorial dispute.”
“It's in our interest to end this war and that's what I will do as president. We are not going to have a blank check. We will not have US troops and we're going to make the Europeans do what they need to do… Meanwhile, our own country is being invaded.”
–ABC News’ Isabella Murray
South Carolina on South Carolina: Nikki Haley and Tim Scott spar several times on stage
At several points during the second hour of the debate, it got particularly heated between former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and someone she appointed to the U.S. Senate in 2013: Tim Scott.
Haley first went after Scott for not completing what he touted as his economic policy accomplishments.
“I appreciate him. We've known each other a long time. But he's been there 12 years and he hasn't done any of that. He has, they've only given four audits on time,” she said.
Then came a heated back-and-forth before Haley repeated, “Twelve years, where have you been? ... Bring it, Tim.”
The two also fought over Haley’s gas tax in South Carolina.
“I would love to finish my conversation with Nikki as it relates to the job that needs to get done. Nikki offered a 10-cent gas tax increase in South Carolina. Talk about someone who has never seen a federal dollar,” Scott said.
Haley then told Scott to do his homework regarding the spending and gas tax in South Carolina. He responded, “just go to YouTube.”
Haley ended the exchange by telling Scott that he was “scrapping right now” (as in scrambling).
“You are scrapping right now, you are scrapping. You know, I fought taxes, I cut taxes, I took care of South Carolina and you know it.”
They then got into a rift over a set of over $50,000 customized curtains for the State Department in the official residence of the ambassador to the United Nations. Haley was the first to live in the new residence.
–ABC News’ Abby Cruz, Gabriella Abdul-Hakim and Isabella Murray