(VOVWORLD) - Seven Republican candidates met for the second primary debate in California on Thursday morning but former President Donald Trump continued to skip the contest.
 Seven Republican candidates at the second primary debate in Simi Valley, California on September 27, 2023 (Photo: Reuters) |
The second gathering took place at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. The seven qualified candidates are Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, Former Vice President Mike Pence, Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy.
The debate took place in a tense atmosphere, in which the candidates repeatedly criticized each other with harsh words, including some criticism of the candidates’ personal lives.
In regard to important topics, such as immigration, inflation, worker rights, the federal government debt, or foreign policy, none of the candidates stood out.
Candidate Mike Pence, former Vice President of the 2016-2020 term, said intense debates are needed at this time, adding that this was a great debate.
Republican candidates also focused their criticism at former US President, Donald Trump, after he continued to skip the second debate session. While the Republican candidates debated, Trump spoke to auto factory workers in Detroit, Michigan.
 On September 27, 2023, former President Donald Trump speaks at Drake Enterprises, a non-union auto parts company in Clinton Township, Michigan. (Photo: AFP) |
Current public polls in the US show that Donald Trump has a large advantage over other opponents in the Republican Party in the race to become the party’s official presidential candidate in the US presidential election next year.
According to a September 21 Reuters-Ipsos poll, Trump has about 51% of support votes from Republicans, 37 points or 14% more than the runner-up Ron DeSantis.