Six key takeaways from the debate:

1. Trump’s absence was a major topic of discussion. Donald Trump was the clear frontrunner in the Republican race but chose not to participate in the debate. Several candidates, including DeSantis and Christie, criticized this decision. Pence, however, defended Trump’s decision, saying that he was “focused on governing” rather than campaigning.
2. The candidates attacked Biden on a range of issues. The candidates criticized Biden’s handling of the economy, the withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the southern border crisis. They also accused him of being too weak on China and Iran.
3. There were sharp divisions on some key issues. The candidates disagreed on how to deal with issues such as abortion, gun control, and climate change. For example, Pence and Scott said that they would support a nationwide abortion ban, while Haley and Baker said that they would leave abortion rights up to the states.
4. The candidates appealed to the Republican base. The candidates made several appeals to the Republican base, such as attacking the media and criticizing the “woke left.” They also promised to cut taxes, reduce regulations, and strengthen the military.
5. There were some memorable moments. There were a few memorable moments from the debate, such as when Christie called Trump “Donald Duck” and when Ramaswamy said that Biden should be “on the unemployment line.”
6. The debate is unlikely to change the race. The debate is unlikely to have a major impact on the Republican race. Trump is still the clear frontrunner, and the other candidates are struggling to gain traction. However, the debate did give the candidates a chance to introduce themselves to voters and to state their positions on the key issues.