WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Republican presidential candidates faced off Wednesday night at the second primary debate of the 2024 election, trading barbs, but failed to deliver any fresh and convincing solution.
Seven candidates sparred over a string of issues, including union workers, economic policy and immigration, during the two-hour debate in Simi Valley, California.
Once again, former President Donald Trump has skipped the debate. Instead, he held a rally in Michigan with auto union members. Yet, the frontrunner was still the target of his rivals on the stage.
"Donald Trump is missing in action. He should be on this stage tonight," Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said, slamming the 77-year-old former president for not showing up in the debate.
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie also mocked Trump "hides behind the walls of his golf clubs" instead of answering questions.
The Republican hopefuls started the debate by discussing the strike of the United Auto Workers, with several criticizing U.S. President Joe Biden for joining the workers on the picket line earlier this week.
Vivek Ramaswamy, a businessman and a political newcomer, said the striking workers should "go picket in front of the White House in Washington, D.C.," because "that's really where the protest needs to be."
Most GOP presidential candidates agreed that the U.S. economic future should be powered by gasoline. They attacked the Biden administration's support for electric vehicles, saying it would hurt the U.S. auto sector and workers.
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum said auto union workers are on strike because their employers "need two-thirds less workers to build an electric car."
The debate was getting chaotic at times, with candidates attacking each other and a moderator threatening to cut off their microphones if they didn't stop talking and interjecting.
"Not one person on that stage is serious about enacting meaningful immigration reform, and it shows," Kevin Munoz, spokesman for the Biden campaign, said in a statement after the Republican debate that lasted more than two hours. ■
