“Why Should It Be YOU?” – The Third Republican Primary Debate

November 9, 2023
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Connor Walcott
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The third Republican primary debate aired live on Wednesday from the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Florida.

The evening’s lineup consisted of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott.

Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, who participated in previous debates, did not meet the donor and polling requirements to appear onstage. Former President Donald Trump, the current frontrunner, declined to attend despite meeting all the qualifications.

Here are some of the winners, losers, and standout moments from the second Republican primary debate.

The Moderators

Unlike the moderators at the two previous debates, “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker, “NBC Nightly News” anchor Lester Holt, and Salem Radio Network host Hugh Hewitt managed to maintain a semblance of control over the conversation and the audience.

However, that respectable performance proved to be a flimsy defense when, in one of the standout moments of the night, Ramaswamy attacked NBC and its moderators for their role in years of media corruption. In his opening statement, the biotech entrepreneur argued that a debate moderated by Tucker Carlson, Joe Rogan, and Elon Musk — all anti-establishment media figures — would draw 10 times the viewership. The moderators were also called out for their role in propagating the Trump-Russia collusion hoax … and they notably had no answer to his challenge.

The Candidates

(NOTE: Candidate assessments are arranged in order of stage position, not necessarily based on performance. Subscribe to the PBD Podcast for the Home Team’s full post-debate rankings and breakdown LIVE Thursday afternoon.)

Ron DeSantis

Currently ranked second in the race — but falling behind Nikki Haley in some key polls — DeSantis had a home-field advantage from the stage in Florida. From the very beginning, DeSantis focused on Washington elites being out of touch with average Americans. His opening statement also attacked Trump for once again skipping the debate and not answering for his policy failures while in office.

“Donald Trump is a lot different of a guy than he was in 2016,” DeSantis stated. “He owes it to you to be on this stage and explain why he should get another chance.”

Other standout moments came when DeSantis touted his recent efforts to combat antisemitism on college campuses — a major issue in every state — and rescue American citizens stranded in Israel after the Hamas invasion.

While the Florida governor performed well overall, he could not escape a subtle jab from Ramaswamy over the “Boot-gate” controversy alleging that he wears lifts in his signature boots. (See Ramaswamy’s highlights for more.)

Nikki Haley

Haley, who has been steadily gaining on DeSantis and is now tied with him for second place in certain swing state polls, began the night by saying that while former President Trump was the right president for a specific time, his moment has passed.

Echoing a previous attack brought against DeSantis in another debate, Haley again accused him of banning fracking in his home state in contradiction of his pro-energy stance. While some saw DeSantis’ rebuttal as a win for the Florida governor, Haley doubled down on the attack by posting clips of his past statements.

While every candidate expressed unwavering support for Israel, Haley was one of the most vocal, pledging to back the Jewish homeland’s efforts against Hamas. “It is not that Israel needs America; America needs Israel,” she said.

Haley also bristled at Ramaswamy mentioning her adult daughter’s use of TikTok, telling him to “Leave my daughter out of your voice,” and later muttering “You’re just scum.”

Vivek Ramaswamy

After a somewhat reserved performance at the second debate in California in September, Ramaswamy went on the offensive during Wednesday night’s faceoff. In addition to his opening remarks targeting moderators, he also went after RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, blaming her for Republican losses in 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2023.

His fellow candidates were also subjected to criticism, including his attacks on DeSantis and Haley. “Do you want Dick Cheney in three-inch heels, [because in] that case we’ve got two of ’em on stage tonight.”

Ramaswamy was also the most aggressive critic of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him a “comedian in cargo shorts” who bans opposition parties and persecutes Christians.

In his closing statements, Ramaswamy called on Democrats to “end this farce that Joe Biden is going to be your nominee” and demanded that the true nominee step forward and run on behalf of the DNC.

After his fiery performance, many viewers consider him the night’s overall winner, though criticisms of his lack of political experience and his lesser-known background linger.

Chris Christie

For his various campaign trail missteps, Christie has consistently proven to be a candidate who provides direct and concise answers to questions posed to him by moderators. In his opening remarks, he proudly declared that “it’s a gift to be an American.”

At various points in the debate, he tackled the issues of fentanyl trafficking, social security, and the abortion referendums that crippled Republican ambitions in state elections last night in Ohio and Virginia.

As has become his tradition, Christie also fired shots at Trump, declaring that any candidate “who’s going to be spending the next year and a half of their life focusing on keeping themselves out of jail and courtrooms cannot lead this party or this country.”

Tim Scott

Scott’s statements from the podium focused primarily on pursuing faith and Christian values in American society, preventing national culture from eroding.

He also shockingly called for direct military action against Iran, the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. “You have to strike in Iran. You have to cut off the head of the snake and the head of the snake is Iran,” he declared. “You cannot negotiate with evil, you have to destroy it!”

This also led him to conclude that the United States must be prepared for a war on three continents at once, as well as at our own southern border.

However, while his faith-based arguments resonated with fellow believers, his overall presentation left many wondering how much longer his campaign can sustain itself.

Donald Trump

“The elephant once again not in the room,” former President Trump hosted a rally half an hour away from the debate stage in Hialeah, Florida, drawing massive crowds and even more viewers online. Read more about that rally and what Trump had to say about his competition.

The next Republican primary debate will be held on December 6 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and will feature even stricter participation requirements.

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