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
People are already working
Ramaswamy said the answer to the economy was to put people back to work, but the labor market is unusually strong, with low unemployment and cooling but steady job growth.
— Analysis by Monica Potts of 538
According to The New York Times, DeSantis has spoken the fourth-most of the seven candidates, behind Ramaswamy, Scott, and Christie. That's not the dominant performance that some of his supporters had hoped for, and it doesn't signal to viewers that he's the clear alternative to the absent Trump
-Jacob Rubashkin, 538 contributor
Reagan’s being mentioned more than Trump
Mentions of Ronald Reagan, president of the U.S. from 1981 to 1989, so far tonight: 20.
Mentions of Donald Trump, president of the U.S. from 2017 to 2021 and current candidate for president: 12.
—Analysis by Nathaniel Rakich of 538
Nathaniel, I'd imagine Vivek's actual words spoken puts him even further ahead of the other contenders on stage. He even acknowledged he was "in a hurry" earlier in the debate, perhaps trying to inject a little humility and self-awareness into his image, especially after his unfavorability rating shot up after the first debate.
-Jacob Rubashkin, 538 contributor
Who will come out on top in our post-debate 538/Washington Post/Ipsos poll?
After last month’s debate, we declared Haley as a big debate winner, according to our previous poll with The Washington Post and Ipsos. When likely Republican primary voters who watched the debate were asked whether they’d consider voting for each candidate, Haley jumped from 30 percent before the debate to 47 percent after. Overall, participation in the debate was beneficial for candidates, and absence from the debate was (at least marginally) detrimental.
We’ll be following up with the same group as our pre-debate poll to see how participants performed and what respondents' views on all of the candidates are. Check back in with 538 tomorrow afternoon for our post-debate analysis.
—Analysis by Holly Fuong of 538