NEW DELHI: Five Republican candidates, seeking to emerge as a clear alternative to former US president Donald Trump, gathered in Miami for the party’s third presidential debate which was overwhelmingly on foreign affairs, abortion and the Israel-Hamas war and barely had any mention of Trump, who is the front-runner in the race.
Israel-Hamas war
Wednesday’s debate marked the first gathering of presidential candidates since the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Hamas.This time, theforeign policydiscussion was more focused. The candidates expressed strong support for Israel and voiced concerns about antisemitism, particularly on liberal college campuses. However, there was minimal mention of safeguarding Palestinian civilians in Gaza.During the debate, the apparent foreign policy divide within the Grand Old Party (GOP) reemerged when discussions turned to war-torn Ukraine, the potential conflict between China and Taiwan, and strategies for Venezuela’s oil market.Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie reaffirmed traditional GOP stances, supporting military aid to Ukraine, advocating for increased military investment, and connecting global conflicts.Biotech entrepreneurVivek Ramaswamyaimed to distinguish himself by criticizing the rest of the stage as part of a bipartisan foreign policy establishment that has led to repeated failures in foreign wars and as a vocal critic of aid to Ukraine, he took an unconventional stance by referring to the country’s Jewish president as “a Nazi” after condemning antisemitism.Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appeared to straddle the divide, deflecting a question about Ukraine and China by shifting the focus to enhancing security on the southern border and hinting at potential deportation of immigrants from the Middle East.Despite the tough talk from all candidates, the subtle party divide over the Ukraine war persisted throughout the night, leaving uncertainty about how each would approach foreign policy in the Oval Office.
No consensus on abortion
During the debate, the candidates offered various ideas on apportion and how to move forward.Haley stressed that it was unlikely that a federal abortion ban could ever pass Congress and that the party should be upfront about it with voters and acknowledge that some states will continue to permit the practice.“What I’m saying to the American people is just let’s see what we can agree on,” she said.Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie also argued that it was an issue best left to states. “I trust the people of this country, state by state, to make the call for themselves,” he said.DeSantis, according to news agency Reuters, said the “anti-abortion movement, having succeeded in winning at the US Supreme Court, was caught flat-footed by state ballot measures that have protected the right, suggesting that the movement needed to modify its tactics”.US Senator Tim Scott argued that a majority in the country would support a 15-week abortion limit, and challenged DeSantis and Haley to move toward a federal ban.“It’s in our nation’s best interest,” he said.The absence of agreement on the debate stage highlighted that the topic of abortion will pose a significant hurdle for the eventual nominee.
Haley calls Ramaswamy ‘scum’
From the get-go, it was evident that Ramaswamy, whose candidacy has lost steam since the initial debate, was set on being a disruptor and taking jabs in every direction while on stage.Despite lacking political experience, Ramaswamy went straight after Haley and DeSantis. During a discussion on the Israel-Hamas conflict, he cautioned that the top two candidates on stage might lead America into a bloody war in Europe. He also fueled speculation about DeSantis wearing lifts inside his boots.”Do you want Dick Cheney in three-inch heels? Because you’ve got two of them on stage tonight,” he said in reference to Haley and DeSantis, while invoking the Republican former vice president who was known for his neoconservative views, reported Reuters.”They’re five-inch heels, and I don’t wear them unless I can run in them,” Haley later shot back. “They are not a fashion statement, they are ammunition.”Ramaswamy didn’t let up on targeting Haley. In a conversation about banning the Chinese short video app TikTok, he brought up the fact that Haley’s daughter is a user of the platform.“You might want to take care of your family first,” he said.“Leave my daughter out of your voice,” Haley countered, adding under her breath, “You’re just scum.”
Trump faces no heat
In the two-hour debate, hardly any candidate talked about Trump. When they did, it was mostly vague comments, like Nikki Haley saying it’s time for the country to move on. They didn’t get asked about Trump trying to change the 2020 election or the chance he might be found guilty in one of his four trials.Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis needed a strong night to prove they’re the best choices instead of Trump. The fact that Trump wasn’t talked about much in the debate made it hard for them to make a strong and positive case for why Trump shouldn’t be the Republican nominee, indicative of the fact that they might have been aiming for second place.Interestingly, when they had a final minute to talk about themselves and wrap up their campaigns, none of the five on stage mentioned the man they were all competing against. And there was no sign that any of them was about to catch up or narrow the gap.Trump, who is leading the race by a large margin, didn’t attend the event, just like the first two. The former president hosted a separate campaign rally in another part of town.(With agencies input)
