Winners and losers in the fourth GOP presidential debate

Here are the winners and losers of the fourth Republican presidential debate on Wednesday night:

WINNERS

Chris Christie: The former New Jersey governor had nothing to lose, and acted like it. He swatted rival Vivek Ramaswamy like a gnat at a picnic.

“Let me tell you something, this is the fourth debate that you would be voted in the first 20 minutes as the most obnoxious blowhard in America,” he told Mr. Ramaswamy in one particularly heated exchange. “So shut up for a little while.”

Mr. Christie also keeps trying to shame Trump supporters, hardly a path to the GOP nomination. “Be careful what you’re going to get. He doesn’t care for the American people. It’s Donald Trump first,” he said.

His strong performance could help his cause in New Hampshire, and make it harder for rival Nikki Haley to break through there.

Moderator Megyn Kelly: She let the candidates argue with each other more than other hosts at other debates. Like a good boxing referee, she let them clinch and dirty box, but also separated them when needed.

 

LOSERS

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis: This was probably his best debate to date, but it still wasn’t good enough to move the needle for Mr. DeSantis.

He said he’s “sick” about hearing how poorly he’s performing in polls. Send the man a case of antacid, he’s going to need it.

Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley: It was not her strongest performance of the four debates. Mr. DeSantis and Mr. Ramaswamy jumped all over her early, reflecting their concern about her surge in recent polls. She fought back ably at first, but seemed to grow exasperated to the point of surrender during Mr. Ramaswamy’s relentless attacks.

Asked by a moderator if she wanted to respond to one more attack by Mr. Ramaswamy, Ms. Haley figuratively threw up her hands and said, “It’s not worth my time.” Um, it might be the last debate before the Iowa caucuses — it is worth your time, even if you just stoop to name-calling like, “begone you sniveling weasel.” Get in the last word.