Takeaways from the second Republican presidential debate<br />The second Republican presidential debate showcased former President Donald Trump as the dominant front-runner, despite his absence from the stage.<br />His rivals took shots at him, but he largely escaped serious scrutiny of his four years in office.<br />Trump's safe approach of skipping the debates and running as an incumbent seems to be paying off.<br />The debate was marred by interruptions, crosstalk, and squabbles over speaking time.<br />This made it difficult for viewers to make sense of the candidates' positions.<br />The moderators struggled to maintain control of the room, leading to a messy and chaotic atmosphere.<br />South Carolina Senator Tim Scott engaged in a heated exchange with former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.<br />They sparred over curtains and traded accusations, showcasing a deep feud between the two South Carolina natives.<br />Florida Governor Ron DeSantis delivered an uneven performance, failing to respond to accusations from his Republican competitors.<br />He struggled to defend himself on issues such as Florida's Black history curriculum and blocking fracking.<br />However, he ended the debate on a strong note, rejecting the moderators' attempts to vote off a competitor and pointing out that polls don't elect presidents.<br />The debate touched on immigration and Latino voters, with questions about reaching out to those who feel the Republican Party is hostile or indifferent.<br />Former Vice President Mike Pence highlighted the tax cut and low unemployment rates for Hispanic Americans during the Trump administration.<br />Senator Tim Scott emphasized the importance of leading by example and highlighted his Hispanic female chief of staff.<br />Overall, the debate did little to change the trajectory of the GOP race, with Trump remaining dominant in national and early-state polling.<br />The messy and chaotic nature of the debate may have led many viewers to tune out entirely.<br />#latestnews #news #cnn
