SEAFORD, NY — The top Republican challengers, save for former president Donald Trump, participated in their party’s first 2024 presidential debate on Wednesday.
For retired Long Island congressman Peter King, the night belonged to a pair of candidates —former Vice President Mike Pence and Nikki Haley.
“I don’t see Mike Pence going anywhere, but he [had] a good debate performance and showed he knows what he’s talking about,” King told Patch. “It’s unfortunate, I think it’s unjust, but there’s too much damage to him because of January 6th.”
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As for the former UN ambassador in Trump’s administration, Haley “rose to the occasion,” King said. “She showed she could compete on the national stage.”
King, who spent two decades on Capitol Hill as a Republican, was less impressed by businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, who’s campaign he described as a novelty without “staying power.”
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Despite being the clear number two in polls, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis avoided slings and arrows from his colleagues on the stage.
“They almost ignored him. It’s a bad sign. You’re not being taken seriously,” King said. “I just thought that he sunk into the background.”
Senator Tim Scott (South Carolina) “missed an opportunity” as King was disappointed that he wasn’t “more vocal.”
Although the candidates were introducing themselves to the electorate, Haley was laying out ideas that would appear more moderate and tolerable toward general election voters.
“If I were a Democrat, I would say she would be a real contrast to Joe Biden,” King said. “They couldn’t make her out to be a crazy Trump Republican.”
As for the front-runner, who was due to surrender to criminal charges in Atlanta, his name was mentioned minimally during the two-hour debate.
“I’m not sure Trump’s lead is going to hold,” King said as Trump faces 91 counts in four jurisdictions.
While the arrest can give a boost to Trump, “You wonder how long it helps him being a criminal defendant,” King said.
King said any talk of pardoning Trump is premature as evidence at the trials needs to be presented.
At the debate, six of the participants said they would support a convicted Trump in the general election.
“It depends on what it is,” King said. “If the American people vote for him, what are the consequences of saying you’re going to reject the American people’s votes.”
King, who is not supporting Trump for 2024, is committed to the GOP over anything else.
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“I strongly disagree with [President] Biden’s policies. They’re really damaging,” King said. “But Trump doesn’t make it easy.”
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