“We’re not getting a mulligan on the 2024 election,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said at one point, proposing that a successful GOP ticket would focus on fixing the economy, securing the border and focusing on the growing “threat from China.”
“I think Trump was an excellent president. But the America First agenda does not belong to one man,” he said. “It does not belong to Donald Trump. It doesn’t belong to me. It belongs to you, the people of this country.” Former President Trump was the elephant in the room at the presidential primary debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif, on Sep. 27, 2023.The former Indiana governor went on to tout his record of bringing back manufacturing jobs to the Hoosier and echoed GOP calls to repeal the Biden administration’s push for green energy alternatives that benefit China.
Candidates blamed Biden in regards to United Auto Workers members striking over electric vehicle concerns.Burgum also saw an opening and butted in over the moderators to deliver a highly detailed response. DeSantis and Christie launched their first attacks against Trump in responding to questions about the economy under Biden — blaming both presidents for contributing to the national debt as a partial government shutdown looms.
Disagreements over national security issues grew particularly heated during an exchange about the social media app TikTok, providing Haley with a chance to renew her attacks on Ramaswamy from the first debate. “I appreciate Tim. We’ve known each other a long time, but he’s been [in the Senate] 12 years and he hasn’t done any of that,” she said in response to a lengthy answer from her fellow Palmetto State lawmaker that suggested corporate tax cuts to lower unemployment rates.