He’s a Clown! And Not Even One of the Good Ones’: Winners and Losers of the G.O.P. Debate..
Welcome to the Assessment's analysis of the fourth conservative official debate, which took place at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Wednesday night. In this unique feature, Times Assessment journalists and contributors rate the candidates on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 meaning the candidate shouldn't have been on the stage, and 10 indicating the candidate is poised for success in Iowa and New Hampshire. Here's what our journalists and contributors thought about the debate.
Jamelle Bouie:
Considering none of these individuals have a real chance of being the next conservative candidate for president, the scores reflect their performance rather than their eligibility for the office. Christie deserves credit for providing clear answers and attempting to push Ron DeSantis to do the same.
Gail Collins:
He managed to shame the others into addressing Donald Trump, if only briefly.
Michelle Cottle:
Christie acknowledged the urgency of the situation, emphasizing the unsuitability of Trump and criticizing the rest for treating the former president too respectfully.
Ross Douthat:
His best debate by far, making the most of the opportunity despite having no chance. The question now is whether he stays in to gather votes from Nikki Haley or plans a smooth exit with sharper attacks on DeSantis.
Sarah Isgur:
Christie excelled by responding to questions, shutting down opponents, defending Haley, and acknowledging the reality of Trump. Conservative primary voters should appreciate those willing to tell them the unpleasant truth, even if there's little evidence that they will.
Katherine Mangu-Ward:
He came to discuss Trump and force other candidates to confront the reality of the GOP's electoral situation. By those standards, he succeeded. Also, a side note: Chris Christie for debate moderator in 2028!
Daniel McCarthy:
He needs any anti-Trump vote available in the GOP, and this time he made his case effectively. He embarrassed DeSantis for avoiding direct answers and came off as bolder and more specific than Haley.
Peter Wehner:
Christie dealt a blow to Ramaswamy's campaign, making a compelling moral case against Trump and calling out rivals for being reluctant to upset him.
On Ron DeSantis:
Jamelle Bouie:
Improved but not very impressive. His exchange with Christie about Trump's fitness for president was symbolic, showing his attempt to wade into controversy without commitment.
Gail Collins:
Smarter than expected, but personal biases influenced disagreement with his statements.
Michelle Cottle:
Tap-danced around tough questions, appearing jittery and hyper. Despite a solid showing, he still faced challenges convincing anti-Trump Republicans to support him.
Ross Douthat:
Performed well in some aspects but lacked the strength or dominance to convince the party's anti-Trump faction to support him.
Sarah Isgur:
Showed a hint of the Rubio robot issue, and his focus on Haley seemed more desperate than strategic.
Katherine Mangu-Ward:
Returned to his lifestyle hero roots, emphasizing rhetoric over practical policy proposals. The audience didn't seem impressed.
Daniel McCarthy:
Injured Haley by questioning her commitment and tailored his pitch well for the Iowa caucuses.
Peter Wehner:
Clever and rehearsed, DeSantis stuck to his culture hero persona but seemed more concerned about specific issues than the broader picture.
In summary, the debate showcased various strengths and weaknesses among the candidates, with Chris Christie earning praise for his performance and Ron DeSantis facing challenges in convincing the anti-Trump faction of the party.
