GOP Debate #2 Recap: First Thoughts

The Sideshow was in California, the Real Campaign was in Michigan

There was another GOP Debate tonight and it had all the feel of a J.V. game before the big boys came out, the warm up act before the big concert, or an undercard flyweight title fight. With Biden campaigning on UAW picket lines in Michigan and Trump visiting there this evening for a rally, no matter how you look at it, the real show wasn’t in Simi Valley. It was 2500 miles away in the heart of the Great Lakes region.

Watching news prior to the debate, Audie Cornish I think kind of nailed the whole race; there is a complete lack of coherence in that if you are not going after Trump, who are you and what do you want to do? None of the candidates have put forward yet a coherent alternative persona to Trump and it shows. It could be argued Christie has, in going after Trump; however, it also results in his negative ratings going through the roof doing so. What about the others? We’ll have to wait and see. Right now, nothing seems to stand out. Until they do something, this is going to always feel like a race to be #2.

That’s not to say there was no entertainment or sparks weren’t flying. The seven also-rans threw out some jabs and we, the overpolitical minds at PurpleAmerica, sat through two hours of Fox Business News moderators so you didn’t have to. Here is our candidate by candidate analysis.

THE GOOD

Nikki Haley (A-)

Out of everyone on that first round of questioning on the Economy, she was the ONLY one to respond with a factual basis on the source of problems, on policy, on how to fix it and goals. That is what a candidate is supposed to do. I really like her demeanor, and the deliberate way she responds to questions. Smart, sharp and with more of a command of facts than any of the candidates. Interesting how none of the other candidates went after her. Loved her response to the high costs of health care. Excellently handled the education question. I flat out LOVED her response and she spoke for all of us when she went after Vivek on TikTok and China (“Every time you talk I feel a little dumber”). Her response was pitch perfect. She really shined tonight.

THE NOT SO BAD

Chris Christie (B-)

At his best when he talks off the cuff and uncanned. Supported Nikki Haley’s economic response which was positive. Deflected the blame for a GOP created shutdown by blaming everyone in DC, which was a good line. Dinged Trump for being AWOL and putting $7 trillion on the debt. Everyone else wanted to interject immediately after his response which shows he hit a nerve there. When he was poked by the moderators for his position on immigration, he effectively pivoted to a crime narrative and then used it to ding Trump AGAIN. Loved it when he talked to the camera “talking to Trump” about not showing up. You have to hand it to him, he’s consistently going after Trump.

The Moderators (B-)

WTF was that first question? It was all over the place and a nonstop non sequitur. Thankfully, they got better after that. Appreciate Dana Perino trying to keep the speakers on topic and how she pitted candidates against one another. The moderators kind of gifted Tim Scott a few more softballs than the others, particularly early. The Univision moderator really did a great job of poking the candidates on immigration and border issues. They started to lose control of the candidates who were eager to interject and talk over one another. Loved Perino returning to Pence to answer the question on Obamacare after he pivoted to a different issue altogether.

Tim Scott (C+)

His first (memorized) remarks started out fine but then went off the rails a little as he began to improv. His hokey names for things (“Build Back Broker plan, yuk yuk yuk”) were pretty lame. His attack on Vivek was interesting, except he started by agreeing with what he said which took the power out of the jab. When DeSantis pointed out CRT, Scott had an excellent response about slavery, being african american and the impacts on their communities. It was actually one of the best responses of the evening. He had a very articulate response on the need for NATO and support for Ukraine.

Ron DeSantis (C)

Reiterated everything Christie said when he followed him but just with more righteous indignation. Kind of started great on a China question until he pivoted to a culture war narrative. He kept doing that again and again, swinging to the culture wars and flailing. Every answer was like "[Answer question]+ [pivot to culture war]+[insert GOP bogeyman]+[conclusion].” Varney really nailed DeSantis on the health care in Florida being a wreck; DeSantis didn’t know how to answer it. When he was confronted on the education in Florida and his cultural crusade, he actually answered it halfway OK.¹ Generally, his pivots were horrible but when he stuck to the question he did well.

THE UGLY

Vivek Ramaswamy (D+)

Demogoguery to a new level. He speaks really, really well, and he uses good lines and chiches, but at times you wonder if he really understands what he is saying. “The left will howl about the Constitution” when he openly talks about scrapping the 14th amendment—uh, yeah. That’s kind of an important thing you’re talking about scrapping Vivek. Others did a good job of exposing his consistent hypocrisy as well. He has the speed and cadence of a preacher. He reminds me of a more telegenic Bobby Jindal if he did five lines of coke and had more on camera training. Openly demonstrated his hypocrisy talking about how kids shouldn’t use social media but that he wanted to reach the younger generations through TikTok.

Doug Borgum (D)

Hamhandedly inserted himself into the economy question and then reiterated everything everyone else already said. Inserted himself again after the child care question and rightfully called out the moderators for ignoring him. The first time he was directly addressed it was on a gun violence question, which he pivoted to 2nd Amendment rights and seemed off balance and then rambled for the rest of the response. As the night went on, it was like he had a thousand ideas in his head and he regurgitated a babble of them that made little or no sense and was ultimately incoherent.

Mike Pence (D)

Always seems like a step behind. Canned responses. Typical GOP talking points, including some that are just out of left field. Was asked a question about DACA and talked about everything else under the sun except the question. Perino really kind of nailed him on Obamacare so much that Pence ignored it altogether and answered the previous question to Vivek/DeSantis on crime. Generic and bland.

PurpleAmerica’s Final Word on the Subject

This was painful to watch. I didn’t see the next President on the stage here tonight.

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Footnotes and Fun Stuff

1. Even if I completely disagreed with it.