ANALYSIS — Republican presidential hopefuls sparred over a national abortion ban, the criminal charges former President Donald Trump is facing and other issues in a feisty primary debate with no clear winner.
With Trump skipping the two-hour event, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy — now polling in third place nationally — made the most of his center stage placement, trading rhetorical blows with just about everyone on stage. Former Vice President Mike Pence and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie criticized Trump over his demands that Pence in January 2021 block Congress’ counting of states’ Electoral College votes.
The Milwaukee audience sounded least impressed with Christie, who repeatedly conjured loud boos any time he said a negative word about the former president. Republicans, if they hope to win back the White House next November, must “dispense” of Trump, who he contended wants to “suspend the Constitution,” Christie said, to jeers.
