And competition from china, among plenty others. There were punches and jabs, counter points and cross talk. But with front runner donald trump sitting out the debate for the second time running, no one on the stage was in a position to deliver a knockout blow. The question will be, which of the candidates put in a Strong Enough performance to win over some voters. Florida Governor Ron Desantis was asked who should be to blame in the event of a Us Government shutdown. He took at aim washington in general, and then the current and former president s in this debate on the fox business network. Please spare me the crocodile business network. Please spare me the Crocodile Tears business network. Please spare me the Crocodile Tears for me the Crocodile Tears for these people. And where isjoe biden . Hes completely missing to action from leadership. And you know who else is missing in action . Donald trump is missing in action. He should be on action . Donald trump is missing in action. He should be on this stage tonight. He owes it to you to defend his record, are they added 7. 8 trillion to the debt. Joining me live is a panel of experts brakkton booker, National Political correspondent at politico. Matt terrill, former chief of staff, marco rubio president ial campaign. Hes now managing partner at firehouse strategies. And Maura Gillespie, former aid to congressman Adam Kinzinger and before that to house speakerjohn boehner. Lets go around the panel and take a quick take from all of you as to what your instant thoughts were about what weve been watching for the last two hours, brakkton, well start with you. Hours, brakkton, well start with vom with you. Well, i think that the candidates with you. Well, i think that the candidates were with you. Well, i think that the candidates were doing | with you. Well, i think that the candidates were doing their best to differentiate themselves from their counterparts. And what i absolutely think is that these candidates were really trying to counterprogramming, trying to counterprogramming, trying to get past what donald trump was doing in michigan, where he was doing in michigan, where he was campaigning for the General Election there. Election there. Matt, whats our election there. Matt, whats your quick election there. Matt, whats your quick view . Election there. Matt, whats your quick view . Certainly, l election there. Matt, whats i your quick view . Certainly, we saw some your quick view . Certainly, we saw some of your quick view . Certainly, we saw some of the your quick view . Certainly, we saw some of the candidates i your quick view . Certainly, we | saw some of the candidates on the stage, trying to Draw A Contrast the stage, trying to Draw A Contrast themselves and President Biden tonight. In some President Biden tonight. In some cases, amongst themselves and President Trump tonight. In this debate, its not likely to change this debate, its not likely to change the course of this race. Certainly, change the course of this race. Certainly, a recognition amongst the candidates and their amongst the candidates and their teams nationwide, particularly on the other side of the particularly on the other side of the aisle, that this doesnt io of the aisle, that this doesnt go around former President Trump go around former President Trump it go around former President Trump. It goes straight through President Trump. It goes straight through President Trump. And the bottom line now President Trump. And the bottom line now is President Trump. And the bottom line now is that former President Trump may have not been President Trump may have not been on President Trump may have not been on the stage. Sucking up a lot of been on the stage. Sucking up a lot of the been on the stage. Sucking up a lot of the oxygen on the stage. Sucking lot of the oxygen on the stage. Sucking up a lot of the oxygen in this sucking up a lot of the oxygen in this race. Right now, hes a clear in this race. Right now, hes a clear frontrunner in the race. If clear frontrunner in the race. If any clear frontrunner in the race. If any of clear frontrunner in the race. If any of the candidates expect to win if any of the candidates expect to win the nomination, every second to win the nomination, every second that is focused on him is really second that is focused on him is really wasted time. Look, the nomination for this party its not the nomination for this party its not going to be up to the incumbent president. This is about incumbent president. This is about former President Trump now about former President Trump now hes about former President Trump now. Hes the frontrunner. The debate now. Hes the frontrunner. The debate would have been the opportunity to do that. Maura, can we get opportunity to do that. Maura, can we get your opportunity to do that. Maura, can we get your quick opportunity to do that. Maura, can we get your quick take opportunity to do that. Maura, can we get your quick take as. Can we get your quick take as well . What was your overarching view with the debate . I well . What was your overarching view with the debate . View with the debate . I think for someone view with the debate . I think for someone who view with the debate . I think for someone who is view with the debate . I think for someone who is looking l view with the debate . I think| for someone who is looking to actually hear from candidates, give concise answers that answers the question and presents the Smaller Government values that republicans are supposed to stand by, they would have really appreciated hearing from the governor boergham. He answered them. I think that theyre going to be disapointed when they hear that tonight, donald trump was talking about how not a single one of the candidates is a viable candidate for him to be a Vice President. Hell be disapointed because clearly he was running for donald trump on that stage and trying to take any and all attention he could. And it clearly got him caught out from any lies he spewed out on stage. Out from any lies he spewed out on state. �. ,. , out from any lies he spewed out onstaue. �. , � , on stage. And what about matts oint on stage. And what about matts point there on stage. And what about matts point there that on stage. And what about matts point there that any on stage. And what about matts point there that any success point there that any success for any of the candidates, the path to that is straight through donald trump . Donald trum is through donald trump . Donald trump is a through donald trump . Donald trump is a part through donald trump . Donald trump is a part of through donald trump . Donald trump is a part of this, through donald trump . Donald trump is a part of this, right. L trump is a part of this, right. Hes ahead in the polls. And he is having counterprogramming but i think with this, especially for democratic voters and republican voter, he he no longer thinks that he should have to earn your vote. That should be owe fencive to us as voters. We want it hear him answerfor the us as voters. We want it hear him answer for the questions and answerfor their him answer for the questions and answer for their past. If donald trump was president for four years and has a lot to answer for. Four years and has a lot to answerfor. And four years and has a lot to answer for. And voters four years and has a lot to answerfor. And voters need those answers and they wont get it if hes going to hide away from the debate stage. Brakkton, this debate was a lot livelier than the one we saw in milwaukee . Livelier than the one we saw in milwaukee . ,. , milwaukee . Yeah, much Fiestier Amon all milwaukee . Yeah, much Fiestier Among all of milwaukee . Yeah, much Fiestier Among all of the milwaukee . Yeah, much Fiestier Among all of the couldnted among all of the couldnted dates among all of the couldnted dates. And mixed up, especially with cyril dates. And mixed up, especially with cyril ramaphosa, who vivek with cyril ramaphosa, who Vivek Ramaswamy surged in polls Vivek Ramaswamy surged in polls. And tim scott came to life in polls. And tim scott came to life in a polls. And tim scott came to life in a way that wasnt there life in a way that wasnt there. You saw towards the end of the there. You saw towards the end of the debate, nikki haley was getting of the debate, nikki haley was getting into it with tim scott over getting into it with tim scott over a getting into it with tim scott over a really odd topic over curtains over a really odd topic over curtains in over a really odd topic over curtains in the residence of the curtains in the residence of the un curtains in the residence of the un ambassador when she was serving the un ambassador when she was serving as the un ambassador when she was serving as un ambassador to the un. Serving as un ambassador to the un and serving as un ambassador to the un. And so, ithink serving as un ambassador to the un. And so, i think what err seeing un. And so, i think what err seeing as un. And so, i think what err seeing as the other panellists allowed seeing as the other panellists allowed to is a lot of the candidates are trying to claw their candidates are trying to claw their way and get within striking distance of trump. The debate striking distance of trump. The debate stage provides the best opportunity to do that. But in reality. Opportunity to do that. But in reality, the gop voters that are going to make the provisions in the primary dehates provisions in the primary debates in the states starting injanuary, they seem to have already injanuary, they seem to have already made up their minds. So it is a already made up their minds. So it is a lot already made up their minds. So it is a lot of already made up their minds. So it is a lot of the candidates who it is a lot of the candidates who were on the stage today trying who were on the stage today trying to who were on the stage today trying to play catch up and really trying to play catch up and really trying to get into second really trying to get into second place, second position, to punch second place, second position, to punch their ticket out of iowa to punch their ticket out of iowa and to punch their ticket out of iowa and into New Hampshire. Matt, iowa and into New Hampshire. Matt, do iowa and into New Hampshire. Matt, do you think on that point, anyone will have changed the dial on the polls for themselves . The dial on the polls for themselves . ~. ,. , themselves . Well, not tonight. Look, i themselves . Well, not tonight. Look. I dont themselves . Well, not tonight. Look, i dont think themselves . Well, not tonight. Look, i dont think that themselves . Well, not tonight. Look, i dont think that this look, i dont think that this debate look, i dont think that this debate is look, i dont think that this debate is going look, i dont think that this debate is going to look, i dont think that this debate is going to make. Look, i dont think that this i debate is going to make much look, i dont think that this debate is going to make much of a difference debate is going to make much of a difference. Inaudible debate is going to make much of a difference. Inaudible and a difference. Inaudible and looking a difference. Inaudible and looking at a difference. Inaudible and looking at whats a difference. Inaudible and looking at whats there a difference. Inaudible and looking at whats there amongst each looking at whats there amongst each other~ looking at whats there amongst each other. Right looking at whats there amongst each other. Right now, looking at whats there amongst each other. Right now, this each other. Right now, this race each other. Right now, this race is each other. Right now, this race is for each other. Right now, this race is for president each other. Right now, this| race is for President Trump. And race is for President Trump. And the race is for President Trump. And the bottom race is for President Trump. And the bottom line race is for President Trump. And the bottom line is race is for President Trump. And the bottom line is thatl race is for President Trump. I and the bottom line is that the former and the bottom line is that the former president and the bottom line is that the former president is and the bottom line is that the former president is the former president is the frontrunner. Former president is the frontrunner. And former president is the frontrunner. And look, | former president is the i frontrunner. And look, right now, frontrunner. And look, right now, inaudible frontrunner. And look, right now, inaudible there frontrunner. And look, right now, inaudible there is. Frontrunner. And look, right now, inaudible there is a | now, inaudible there is a pivotal now, inaudible there is a pivotal time. Now, inaudible there is a pivotal time. The now, inaudible there is a l pivotal time. The candidates dont pivotal time. The candidates dont have pivotal time. The candidates dont have a pivotal time. The candidates dont have a whole pivotal time. The candidates dont have a whole lot pivotal time. The candidates dont have a whole lot of i pivotal time. The candidates. Dont have a whole lot of time. Theyre dont have a whole lot of time. Theyre not dont have a whole lot of time. Theyre notjust dont have a whole lot of time. Theyre not just speaking i dont have a whole lot of time. Theyre not just speaking to i theyre not just speaking to voters theyre not just speaking to voters in theyre not just speaking to voters in this theyre not just speaking to voters in this race, theyre not just speaking to voters in this race, but i theyre not just speaking to voters in this race, but alsoj voters in this race, but also speaking voters in this race, but also speaking to voters in this race, but also speaking to other voters in this race, but also. Speaking to other governors. Voters in this race, but also i speaking to other governors. If theyre speaking to other governors. If theyre not speaking to other governors. If theyre not winning, speaking to other governors. If theyre not winning, theyre i theyre not winning, theyre going theyre not winning, theyre going to theyre not winning, theyre going to run theyre not winning, theyre going to run out theyre not winning, theyre going to run out of theyre not winning, theyre going to run out of money. I going to run out of money. Theyre going to run out of money. Theyre trying going to run out of money. Theyre trying to going to run out of money. Theyre trying to stay i going to run out of money. I theyre trying to stay there. We saw theyre trying to stay there. We saw one theyre trying to stay there. We saw one missing theyre trying to stay there. I we saw one missing candidate on the debate we saw one missing candidate on the debate station. We saw one missing candidate on the debate station. Part we saw one missing candidate on the debate station. Part of the debate station. Part of this the debate station. Part of thisiust the debate station. Part of thisjust stayed the debate station. Part of this just stayed on the debate station. Part of this just stayed on the i the debate station. Part of. Thisjust stayed on the debate race thisjust stayed on the debate race and thisjust stayed on the debate race and becomes thisjust stayed on the debate race and becomes a thisjust stayed on the debate race and becomes a donor race and becomes a Donor Outreach race and becomes a Donor Outreach and race and becomes a Donor Outreach and it race and becomes a Donor Outreach and it is race and becomes a donor. Outreach and it is important that outreach and it is important that the outreach and it is important that the Candidates Outreach and it is important that the candidates show. Outreach and it is important. That the candidates show that theyre that the candidates show that theyre breaking that the candidates show that theyre breaking through, i that the candidates show that theyre breaking through, notj theyre breaking through, not ust theyre breaking through, not just to theyre breaking through, not just to get theyre breaking through, not just to get more theyre breaking through, not just to get more voters theyre breaking through, not just to get more voters but i theyre breaking through, notj just to get more voters but to demonstrate just to get more voters but to demonstrate to just to get more voters but to demonstrate to donors just to get more voters but to demonstrate to donors that l just to get more voters but to i demonstrate to donors that they et demonstrate to donors that they get in demonstrate to donors that they get in the demonstrate to donors that they get in the race demonstrate to donors that they get in the race. Get in the race. Well, youve all mentioned get in the race. Well, youve all mentioned the all mentioned the counterprogramming that was going on tonight. Of course, the former president , donald trump, in detroit, in michigan, getting a tour of an A