Pence dominates speaking time in 2024 underdog Republican debate.
Underdogs Fight for Attention at First GOP Primary Debate
At the first presidential debate of the 2024 GOP primary, some of the biggest underdogs in the field fought for their moment in the spotlight. With former President Donald Trump absent, eight of his top competitors took the stage, each hoping to create a breakout moment in the limited time available.
Mike Pence and Vivek Ramaswamy Take Center Stage
Former Vice President Mike Pence, who had been lagging in fundraising and polling, surprisingly dominated the night with 12 minutes and 37 seconds of speaking time. He became a subject of dispute among the candidates when questioned about his break with Trump on January 6. Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who has been steadily rising in the polls, closely followed Pence with 11 minutes and 47 seconds of speaking time.
Underdogs Struggle for Attention
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson had the least speaking time of any candidate, with only 7 minutes and 33 seconds. Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) also fought for attention, speaking for 8 minutes and 15 seconds and 8 minutes and 41 seconds, respectively. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie spoke for 11 minutes and 22 seconds, surpassing Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R-FL) 10 minutes and 22 seconds.
Christie made an impact by engaging in sparring matches with Ramaswamy and Pence throughout the night. One of his standout moments was when he criticized Ramaswamy, comparing him to an AI language model and calling him an amateur.
Haley, DeSantis, and the Battle for Airtime
Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis also had their moments during the two-hour event. Haley pushed back on Ramaswamy’s stance on U.S. support for Israel and challenged other candidates on their approach to abortion. DeSantis took aim at Trump and Pence’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, defended his record on crime in Florida, and engaged in a heated exchange with Ramaswamy on education. He also took a swipe at Hunter Biden.
Scott, Burgum, and Hutchinson Struggle to Stand Out
Unfortunately, there was little time for Tim Scott, Doug Burgum, and Asa Hutchinson to make a breakthrough. Scott reiterated his well-known positions on China, illegal immigration, and abortion but remained under the radar for most of the debate. Burgum joined Ramaswamy in advocating for the abolition of the Department of Education and emphasized the need for greater freedom for teachers. Hutchinson gained attention for his bloodshot eyes and for being one of the two candidates who did not raise their hands when asked about supporting Trump as the GOP nominee if he were convicted of a felony. Christie was the other candidate who kept his hand down.
Despite the challenges, these underdogs made their voices heard at the first GOP primary debate, each vying for a chance to secure their breakthrough moment.
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