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Transcript/Script
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: TV-Republicans Debate
HEADLINE: Republican Presidential Candidates, Minus Trump, Spar Sharply
TEASER: Some challengers attack former US leader, now facing four criminal indictments
PUBLISHED AT: 8/24/2023 Thursday at 3:58am
BYLINE: Steve Herman
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: MILWAUKEE
VIDEOGRAPHER: Adam Greenbaum
VIDEO EDITOR:
ASSIGNING EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS:
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, Agencies
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV __X RADIO _X_
TRT: 2:09
VID APPROVED BY: Bill Ide
TYPE:
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO)) [[Eight Republicans who want to be president of the United States shared a stage Wednesday night in Wisconsin for their party’s first debate ahead of next year’s election. VOA’s chief national correspondent Steve Herman was on the scene and has more from Milwaukee.]]
((NARRATOR))
The two-hour debate, the first held by Republicans in this election cycle, featured spirited exchanges about what one of the moderators called “the elephant who is not in the room” – the absent party front-runner, former President Donald Trump.
Some of the contenders, such as Trump’s former vice president, Mike Pence, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, deemed Trump disqualified from serving again because of what they said was his disrespect for the Constitution, as well as the more than 90 felony counts he now faces.
Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley declared, “Trump is the most disliked politician in America. We can’t win a general election that way.”
However, political novice Vivek Ramaswamy, rising in the polls, stood by Trump, saying he believed he was “the best president of the 21st century.”
Ramaswamy also stood apart in questioning American support for Ukraine, saying China is a bigger threat to the United States than Russia. Several other candidates, including Nikki Haley, also a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, expressed strong support for Ukraine in defending itself against Russian forces.
After the debate, Pence told reporters no one should have been surprised by his vigor on the debate stage.
((Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence))
“I was the leading champion of conservative values in the Trump-Pence administration. I know how to fight and I was happy to bring that fight tonight.” ((:07))
((NARRATOR))
Pence’s primary sparring opponent of the evening, Ramaswamy, said he relished the verbal barrages directed at him by the former vice president.
((Republican Candidate Vivek Ramaswamy))
“Mike Pence coming at me with the experience differential, I think that’s a great thing because I don’t think the people in this country are interested in going back to people who recite slogans they memorized in 1980.” [[:09]]
((Steve Herman, VOA News))
((Steve Herman, VOA News))
“The Republicans hold their second debate next month in California. But one of the candidates will be back here on the same stage in Wisconsin next July to accept the party’s nomination.”
((Steve Herman, VOA News, Milwaukee))
((END))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateAugust 24, 2023 04:00 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
