What’s the surest sign you’re doing well? Everyone else trying to tear you down.
That’s what we saw last night in the fourth Republican presidential debate in Alabama, which, arguably was the most explosive so far.
On stage, four of the five highest polling candidates – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former UN ambassador Nikki Haley, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
Absent, as with the previous debates, was the clear and overwhelming front-runner, former president Donald Trump.
He’s in New York this morning attending his business fraud civil trial. He seems to be operating on the assumption that he is so far ahead in the polls he doesn’t need to attend these debates.
But even without Trump, fireworks were lit, with the four launching blistering attacks on each other – an equal amount of audience cheering and booing often accompanying them.
Christie called Ramaswamy “the most obnoxious blowhard in America”.
"So do everybody a favour, just walk yourself off that stage, enjoy a nice meal and get the hell out of this race," Ramaswamy later told Christie.
Haley managed to remain somewhat presidential throughout it all, refusing at one point to engage with a very shouty Ramaswamy.
DeSantis kept not answering direct questions.
But much of the focus, especially in the case of DeSantis and Ramaswamy, was attacking former ambassador Haley.
Perhaps that’s because she is shooting upwards in the polls – she's tied with DeSantis for second place in Iowa, weeks out from the Republican caucuses in mid-January, the first big litmus test in the American election cycle.
The pair repeatedly went after some of her big-name donors, including LinkedIn co-founder, Reid Hoffman, who donated $250,000 USD to a Super PAC supporting her, as well as interest she was getting from companies such as Blackrock. They also criticised her relationship with Boeing, which she spent some time on the board of.
Hayley fired back, saying no one dictated to her what her policies were and said the other two were jealous they didn't have the same level of support.
Ramaswamy went one step further, repeatedly accusing her of “corruption” due to the simple fact her net worth had increased over several years.
However, the only proof he offered were the words “Nikki = Corrupt” he had drawn on a pad and held up, much like a primary school teacher might use a visual aid.
Even Christie, who is only in the race to try and draw votes away from Trump, raced to Haley’s defence after Ramaswamy started quizzing her on provinces in Ukraine.
"Look at the blank expression," said Ramaswamy. "She doesn’t know the names of the provinces!"
Christie was having none of that.
"Look, if you want to disagree on issues, that’s fine," Christie retorted. "And Nikki and I disagree on some issues, but I’ll tell you this: I’ve known her for 12 years, which is longer than he’s even started to vote in the Republican primary.
"And while we disagree about some issues and we disagree about who should be president...well, we don’t disagree on this," he continued. "This is a smart, accomplished woman. You should stop insulting her."
An unlikely white knight.
Later in the debate Ramaswamy made great efforts to say wonderful things about his wife and had one of his children thrust into his arms as the debate ended. Call me cynical.
So, in the end, who won?
It wasn’t Ramaswamy. As soon as started talking about a “deep state” he would have started losing a slice of the audience (he has never been able to offer proof of a “deep state” either”). He also seemed to shout a lot.
DeSantis seemed very rehearsed – and not in a good way. He’s not had the cut-through many republicans thought he might have.
Hayley seemed the most presidential – and Christie was the most reasonable.
But the real winner was the guy who wasn’t there, who is spending today in a New York courtroom.
None of them are – so far at least – coming close to his poll numbers.
And last night's debate is unlikely to change that.
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