GOP debate updates: TV ratings plummet as Haley addresses ‘scum’ spat
Five candidates faced off in the NBC News-hosted event in Miami, Florida
The third Republican primary debate at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Florida, featured a number of contentious exchanges over candidates’ policies and records with even the moderators and RNC chair Ronna McDaniel coming under fire early on.
Five candidates qualified for the showdown, broadcast by NBC News – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, biotech entrepreneur and woke-bashing author Vivek Ramaswamy, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
Former President Donald Trump also qualified but did not attend, instead speaking at a rally in nearby Hialeah, Florida.
There were a number of fiery tussles throughout the evening including when Mr Ramaswamy was booed by the crowd for an attack on Ms Haley’s daughter with the former UN ambassador calling him “scum” in response — many agreed with her assessment.
Despite the fireworks, TV ratings slumped to the lowest yet in the 2024 cycle, with just 7.51 million viewers tuning in, according to NBC News.
The next debate is set for 6 December in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and will be hosted by NewsNation.
Abortion and last night’s election result
What does last night’s election result mean for the Republican Party in regard to abortion?
DeSantis: I stand for a culture of life.
Haley: Pro-life but the focus needs to be on consensus because the states are deciding and there are areas in which there can be cooperation.
Scott: I want a 15-week limit on abortions.
Haley responds: Let’s see what we can agree on, but don’t make the American people you are going to push something on them when you don’t have the votes in the Senate to do what you are saying.
Ramaswamy: Sexual responsibility for men.
Christie: This is an issue to be decided in each state.
New question: Southern border and fentanyl crisis
Scott: If we want to deal with deaths from fentanyl, we need to deal with it at ports of entry and through the southern border.
Christie: Executive order to have National Guard partner with Customs and border agents at ports of entry and southern border. The country also needs to treat people with drug problems.
DeSantis: We’re going to shoot them stone-cold dead.
Haley: End all normal trade relations with China until the flow of fentanyl stops. Then attack cartels. Then deal with border, sanctuary cities, and move from catch and release to catch and deport. She agrees with Christie on the focus on mental health and addiction.
Ramaswamy: Use our own military to protect our own border and not fight foreign wars.
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