ANALYSIS: Ramaswamy Steals the Spotlight at GOP Debate

Contact Your Elected Officials
The Epoch Times Header

After the first Republican presidential primary debate in Milwaukee, surrogates for the various candidates did what any good supporter should: They sought to spin performances into clear-cut wins.

“[Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis] has no peer up there in terms of his conservative consistency,” Ken Cuccinelli, a veteran of the Trump administration who is now with the Never Back Down super PAC that supports Mr. DeSantis’s presidential run, said in an interview with The Epoch Times.

“[Former Gov. Nikki Haley] showed tonight that she can stand toe-to-toe, being the only woman on the presidential stage for 2024,” Katon Dawson, a supporter of Ms. Haley who formerly chaired the South Carolina Republican Party, told The Epoch Times.

Yet, as the dust settles after the two-hour, former President Donald Trump-free spectacle on Aug. 23, it’s crucial to look beyond the spin.

By Drawing Attacks, Ramaswamy Scores Victories

President Trump’s absence from the Fiserv Forum, normally home to the Milwaukee Bucks basketball team, meant that one man stood in as the next best thing: biotech entrepreneur, anti-“woke” investor, and occasional rapper Vivek G. Ramaswamy, whose Trump-like stances and Trump-friendly rhetoric painted a bright target on his back.

On foreign policy, climate change, and other issues, Mr. Ramaswamy took fire from many opponents—most notably, Ms. Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

Mr. Christie compared the energetic millennial to ChatGPT. Mr. Pence, meanwhile, dismissed Mr. Ramaswamy as a “rookie,” while Ms. Haley accused him of failing to support U.S. allies.

That pattern contradicted the predictions of some insiders, who told The Epoch Times that Mr. DeSantis would probably attract the most heat as the favorite for the nomination after President Trump. Yet, Mr. Ramaswamy’s rapid ascent in the past few months makes what happened more understandable: Acceleration is easier to spot and attack than a relatively steady velocity.

If Mr. Ramaswamy aimed to win by playing the underdog, he appears to have succeeded. Time and time again, he stole the show, even by drawing a swipe from one rival through effusive praise of the last Republican to reach the White House.

By Nathan Worcester

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Obama Floats ‘New Forms of [State-Controlled] Journalism’

Notorious nemesis of civil liberties one and all, Barack Obama, ]apparently endorses a heavy state hand in the “regulation” of information.

Privilege Is Financial, Not Racial

If we stay divided by race, we’ll keep fighting each other while the true elites of all races thrive unseen, counting their wealth in comfort.

California Repeats Illinois’ History, PROSECUTE Newsom!

California may have improperly licensed 62,000 illegal aliens as Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) truck drivers.

The Stage Is Set For A US-Instigated Security Dilemma Between The Eurasian Rimland & Heartland

The US sends mixed signals on the Sino-Russo alliance after Trump downplayed concerns while Hegseth said he was ordered to “re-establish deterrence.”

Chambers of Horror

Using a shutdown to legislate is like using a flame thrower to light a candle, it provides light momentarily but destroys everything in its path.

Vance Warns Holiday Travel Could Be ‘Disaster’ If Government Does Not Reopen

Vice President JD Vance warned on Thursday that holiday travel will be a “disaster” if the government shutdown does not end.

Trump Admin Cuts Quota for Refugees, Prioritizes Afrikaners

Trump admin slashed quota for refugees and prioritized Afrikaners “and other victims of illegal or unjust discrimination in their respective homelands.”

DHS: 8,000 Percent Jump in Death Threats Against ICE Officers

DHS reports an 8,000% surge in death threats against U.S. immigration officers, raising alarm over safety concerns for federal personnel.

Federal Judge Weighs Forcing USDA to Pay SNAP Benefits Despite Shutdown

A judge weighed forcing the USDA to use a $5 billion fund to prevent a lapse in the national food stamp program amid looming funding shortfalls.

US, South Korea Finalize Trade Deal Reducing Tariffs, Boosting American Investment

The U.S. and South Korea finalized a major trade deal on Oct. 29 as President Trump wrapped up the final hours of his Asian tour on the Korean Peninsula.

Trump, Japanese PM Sign Critical Minerals, Rare Earths Deal

The U.S. president visited Tokyo on the second leg...

Trump Hikes Canada’s Tariffs by 10 Percent for Not Pulling Anti-Tariff Ad Immediately

Trump announced he will increase tariffs on Canada by 10% after ad by provincial government of Ontario misrepresented President Reagan’s speech on tariffs.

Trump Rolls Back Emissions Rules on Copper Smelters

President Trump issued a proclamation aimed at reversing a Biden-era environmental rule that enforced stricter air emission standards on copper smelters.
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

MAGA Business Central