MIAMI: In a heated exchange, five Republican presidential contenders sparred on Wednesday over issues such as Ukraine, China, and the future direction of the party.
Despite their shared support for Israel and its conflict with Hamas, the candidates engaged in a tense third televised debate just two months before crucial early votes in the White House nomination race.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy expressed frustration over recent political setbacks for the party, particularly in light of state election results reflecting voter opposition to restrictions on abortion rights.
While the frontrunner and former president, Donald Trump, opted to snub the Miami event and held a rally nearby, the remaining candidates faced the challenge of gaining ground against the populist leader of the hard-right Make America Great Again movement. Despite Trump facing multiple criminal indictments, the contenders have limited prospects for significant breakthroughs.
DeSantis, currently polling in second place, seized the opportunity to highlight Trump’s absence and took a subtle jab, stating, “He said Republicans were going to get tired of winning. Well, we saw last night. I’m sick of Republicans losing.” DeSantis stressed the importance of Trump being present on the stage to articulate the reasons why he should be granted another opportunity.
