Highlights from the Republican presidential primary debate in Alabama

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Republican Debate
CREDIT: WINK News

It was a night of blows and comebacks for the smallest field yet of GOP presidential hopefuls – Chris Christie, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy,

Nikki Haley took most of the heat. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy set his sights on the former UN Ambassador.

“Nikki, you were bankrupt ’til when you left the UN. After you left the UN, you became a military contractor,” stated Ramaswamy. “Now you’re a multimillionaire. That math does not add up. It adds up to the fact that you are corrupt.”

Haley, whose poll numbers are rising, appeared to take the shots in stride.

“I love all the attention, fellas. Thank you for that,” Haley said.

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie came to Haley’s defense.

“The fourth debate that you would be voted in the first 20 minutes as the most obnoxious blowhard in America, so shut up for a little while,” Christie told Ramaswamy.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis walked a fine line on whether former President Donald Trump is fit to serve another term.

“We have an opportunity to nominate someone and elect someone for two terms,” explained DeSantis. “We should not nominate somebody who’s almost 80 years old.”

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden told reporters if Trump wasn’t trying to regain the presidency, he’s “not sure” he would even be running.

While Biden is pretty sure Trump will be the Republican nominee, if for some reason he isn’t, his replacement will be just like him.

Republican debate
Security at Alabama debate. CREDIT: WINK News

President Biden’s campaign manager came to the University of Alabama and said the Republican debate doesn’t mean a whole lot.

Quinton Folks, Biden’s campaign manager, responded to when Trump said that he wouldn’t be a dictator, except on day one.

“We’ve known this for some time, but last night, Donald Trump gave it a name ‘a dictator on day one,'” said Folks. “Tonight’s debate may just be a sideshow, but one thing is certain, every Republican on stage tonight is desperate to mirror Donald Trump’s MAGA agenda that would wreck the American economy and make life harder for and more expensive for middle-class families.”

Folks said if you watch the debate, expect the candidates to try attacking Trump. But, he said, there’s no real difference between any of them, including his harshest critics, DeSantis and Christie.

Meanwhile, DeSantis tried to make a big impression among students at the University of Alabama. DeSantis plans on accomplishing that by speaking about issues they care about.

The Florida governor was confident he could accomplish that because it’s something he does best.

However, one of DeSantis’ supporters at the university explained why he believes in the governor despite the long odds he faces in the polls.

“Because of what he’s done in Florida,” the student noted.

Another student explained why he is leaning toward supporting Ramaswamy.

“It’s tiring seeing all these guys, they’re like 75+ [years old] being the leading candidate, so I think we need new entrepreneurial spirit out there,” the student explained.

Nevertheless, most students WINK News spoke with remain undecided about who will get their vote for President of the United States in 2024.

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