Throughout the opening Republican primary debate on Wednesday in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the nominees traded insults as they attempted to set themselves against former President Donald Trump without losing the conservative voter base anticipated to control the party’s primary elections in 2018.
Candidates aimed to set themselves apart from Trump, who skipped the discussion, yet additionally avoid losing his conservative supporter base, which is anticipated to rule the primary election the following year.
The “basic challenge” for each one of the 8 nominees who met the requirements to participate in the debate, according to Grant Davis Reeher, a political science professor at Syracuse University.
According to Reeher, every candidate must set themselves apart from Trump and offer some sharp comparisons while avoiding losing primary voters who are currently ready to favor the former president by being overly harsh in their criticism. Anything else than approval will be viewed as treason by Trump’s most passionate fans.