In their first debate because the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Republican presidential candidates all declared hawkish help for Israel however squabbled over China and Ukraine as they confronted rising strain to attempt to catch Donald Trump — who was once more absent.

At heart stage had been Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley, who has appeared aggressive with DeSantis’ second place place in some nationwide polls. Haley, the previous South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador, declared she would finish commerce relations with China “until they stop murdering Americans from fentanyl — something Ron has yet to say that he’s going to do.”

In return, the Florida governor mentioned Haley “welcomed” Chinese funding to her state, referencing land and financial growth offers. Haley then accused DeSantis of scrubbing official web sites to cover that Florida had pitched itself as welcoming to Chinese companies.

The 5 folks onstage confronted new urgency to chop into Trump’s margins with the leadoff Iowa caucuses simply two months away. Many of the candidates have gone after each other, hoping to break out as a viable alternative to the previous president. They have been emphasizing their variations on international coverage but also ripping Trump for his criticisms of the Israeli prime minister within the wake of Hamas’ assault and for his claims {that a} group attacking Israel was “very smart.”

Trump was the topic of the talk’s first query, when moderators requested every candidate to elucidate why they had been the appropriate individual to beat him.

Said DeSantis, “He owes it to you to be on this stage and explain why he should get another chance.”

Haley, who’s pulling some voter and donor curiosity from DeSantis, mentioned Trump “used to be right” on supporting Ukraine however “now he’s getting weak in the knees.”

In addition to DeSantis and Haley, additionally showing onstage Wednesday had been South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

They all mentioned they had been staunchly behind Israel because it mounts an offensive in Gaza following Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault that killed greater than 1,400 folks. The candidates didn’t focus on humanitarian assist for civilians in Gaza because the variety of Palestinians killed within the conflict handed 10,500, together with greater than 4,300 youngsters, in response to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza.

Several additionally mentioned they’d strain faculty campuses to crack down on antisemitism.

The rivalry between DeSantis and Haley has ramped up in recent weeks, with Haley rising in a outstanding Iowa ballot and gaining new curiosity from donors and voters. Both campaigns and allied tremendous PACs have hit one another over the conflict in Israel and the U.S. relationship with China as Republicans take an more and more antagonistic view of Beijing.

Both candidates have additionally diverged on abortion rights, a political challenge for Republicans because the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Supporters of abortion rights claimed new momentum Tuesday after elections in a number of states went of their favor.

The DeSantis and Haley campaigns for months have attacked one another on China, lengthy a subject of scorn in GOP primaries. Their allied tremendous PACs have run adverts in early main states alleging the opposite aspect is smooth on Beijing.

Ramaswamy tried to push his method into the middle of the talk. Having lengthy styled himself as somebody prepared to problem his rivals, he repeatedly went after different candidates, notably Haley.

She appeared to disregard his first barbs, however snapped again throughout a dialogue concerning the social media app TikTok, which many Republicans need banned within the U.S. attributable to its dad or mum firm’s ties to China.

Ramaswamy accused Haley’s daughter of getting had her personal TikTok account till lately. Responded Haley, “Leave my daughter out of your voice!” She then advised him, “You’re just scum.”

Trump has retained enormous leads regardless of his efforts to attempt to overturn his 2020 election loss, his embrace of these jailed for storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 and his dealing with four criminal indictments and a civil fraud case against his businesses for which he testified in New York this week.

His marketing campaign has worked to overpower DeSantis in their shared home state and publicly mentioned it needs to attain blowout wins in early main states to seal the nomination.

DeSantis has used his official position as governor to point out help for Israel, authorizing the state to fly tons of of Americans evacuated from Israel to the U.S., ordered state universities to disband chapters of a pro-Palestinian group, and arranged to help send weapons, ammunition and other supplies to Israel.

Haley, additionally the previous governor of South Carolina, has leaned into her experience as Trump’s U.N. ambassador arguing in help of the Israeli authorities.

The race’s overwhelming front-runner, in the meantime, was in a stadium about 10 miles away from the talk within the closely Latino metropolis of Hialeah. He has refused to take part attributable to his giant lead in nationwide and early state polls.

Trump’s marketing campaign has instructed the Republican National Committee ought to cease having debates and as a substitute deal with supporting his marketing campaign.

Top advisers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita raised Trump’s debunked claims of election fraud and mentioned that if the occasion doesn’t cancel debates, it’s “an admission to the grassroots that their concerns about voter integrity are not taken seriously and national Republicans are more concerned about helping Joe Biden than ensuring a safe and secure election.”

The RNC didn’t reply to a message in search of remark.

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Price reported from Washington. Associated Press reporter Meg Kinnard in Columbia, South Carolina, contributed to this report.

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