GOP Candidates Rip Each Other at Debate—Just Hardly the Guy Ripping Them

Through most of the first GOP presidential debate on Wednesday night, punches were flying in every direction—just hardly up.

Mike Pence went after Vivek Ramaswamy.

Ramaswamy went after everyone, declaring he was the only candidate onstage “not bought and paid for.” But he showed particular ire for Chris Christie.

Christie paid back the favor, showing particular ire for Ramaswamy.

Nikki Haley went after all the men onstage—which is to say, everyone else.

But the one candidate who only took glancing blows—even when the moderators set up the discussion to focus on him—was the one who the eight Republicans onstage most desperately need to take down: Donald Trump.