Had the same reaction last night as after the first TV debate: No big winners or losers, all still in contention for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.
I continue to be drawn to the prior relevant experience and straightforwardness of Christie and Haley, the authenticity of Scott, repelled by the ambitious riffs of business guy Ramaswamy. Each candidate had obvious partisans in the Reagan Library audience.
About Trump: Media and political pundits keep treating his present national poll lead as evidence of his likely 2024 nomination. Not so. The only numbers that will count are the vote counts in early 2024 contests in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, etc. Big early leaders often founder, long shots nominated. Voters not year-ahead pollsters will decide.