Staff Reports
With the first GOP debate just around the corner, it’s time to take a look at the strategies of the different candidates. Let’s face it, no one really cares about Asa Hutchison. But the serious contenders like Ron DeSantis, Tim Scott, Nikki Haley, Chris Christie, and others, they’re the ones to watch.
Ron DeSantis, being the top guy on the stage, will undoubtedly face the most attacks from his fellow candidates. They’ll try to avoid talking about Trump, but they won’t be able to avoid talking about each other. Each candidate wants to be seen as the biggest threat to Trump, and DeSantis is the one they’ll have to take down to secure that spot. It’s a tough balance for DeSantis to be aggressive on policy while also defending himself without looking like a complete idiot. But hey, he’s charismatic and smart, so he might just pull it off.
Tim Scott is positioning himself as the alternative to DeSantis. He’s the top second choice for many Republicans, which gives him room to grow if the top candidates falter. But Scott needs to prove that he’s tough enough to be taken seriously. Kindness and compassion are great qualities, but voters want someone who can fight for them. Scott needs to show that he’s ready to play in the big leagues.
Nikki Haley, on the other hand, has to deal with the fact that she served in the Trump administration. She needs to differentiate herself from both Trump the person and Trump the administration. Plus, she’s not being taken seriously by many outside of her fanbase. People see her as someone running for a VP or cabinet seat, not the presidency. Haley needs to prove that she’s serious about this fight.
Vivek Ramaswamy is gaining traction nationally, but his numbers in state-level polling are lacking. He needs a big moment in the debate to show the early states that he’s a serious candidate and the natural successor to Trump. However, there’s concern that he says a lot of words without much substance. Plus, his views on foreign policy might not align with conservative values. But he’s likely to double down on them anyway.
And let’s not forget Mike Pence, who seems to be taking his role as the counterpart to Trump a little too seriously. He’s dry and boring, and he needs to find a way to connect with primary voters. Otherwise, he’ll be seen as nothing more than a vengeful ex-VP.
What to Expect From the Candidates at Tomorrow's Fox News Debate https://t.co/fABd3nhXDm https://t.co/eSLMmueO0B #TheMillennialPress
— Millennial Conservative ™️ (@Milennial_con) August 22, 2023
Lastly, we have Chris Christie, the former New Jersey governor. He’s engaging, self-deprecating, and knows how to win a debate. Christie’s biggest challenge will be to figure out who he needs to take down on the debate stage. If he can knock off DeSantis and gain momentum in the early states like New Hampshire, he could be a force to be reckoned with.
Overall, it’s going to be an interesting debate with each candidate trying to make a name for themselves. But no matter what happens, they’ll all have to make headlines on Thursday and Friday to compete with the media’s obsession with Trump turning himself in. Trump knows how to steal the spotlight, and the other candidates will have to fight for attention.
In the end, this debate is a big test for all the candidates. They need to show how serious they are and prove that they have what it takes to be the GOP nominee. It’s a tough race, but someone’s gotta win it. And let’s hope it’s not Asa Hutchison.
