Who Won the Third Republican Primary Debate?

Who won the third Republican debate, and what impact will it have?

Winners and Losers: A writer in The Hill (Center bias) determined the winners of the debate were Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, and the absent frontrunner former President Donald Trump. The writer argued businessman Vivek Ramaswamy’s “troll-like approach finally went too far,” and Sen. Tim Scott’s (R-SC) performance was “as inoffensive but low-wattage as the previous two.”

Runner-Up Contest: Byron York (Right bias) argued that without Trump, the debates have been “underwhelming, unsatisfying exercises” that only accomplish “identifying a first, and a second, runner-up,” which York determines to be DeSantis and Haley. York believes voters deserve to see Trump debate DeSantis and Haley, but with polls indicating the majority of Republican voters don’t think it matters if Trump debates his primary rivals, that likely won't happen. “The current idea in the Trump campaign is that what Trump is doing is working.”

Losing Platforms: Alyssa Milano (Left bias) determined the debate showed the GOP is “committed to doubling down on its losing platforms,” featuring candidates exchanging “failed ideas and recycled MAGA soundbites.” Milano argued the candidates positioned themselves in opposition to existing ideas and policies while avoiding putting forth any new ideas. “They are all weak candidates, and not because they’re all getting crushed by Trump in the polls. It’s because they lack a realistic vision that provides for a hopeful future and all they have to sell is fear and anger.”