Nikki Haley’s Stronger Second Hour

Nikki Haley disappeared for the first hour of the debate, but came back strong in the second half. She tangled with Vivek Ramaswamy over Ukraine, seeking to put him in his place as a newcomer by telling him that his lengthy diatribes make her feel dumber. Then she took on DeSantis over his energy policy, accusing him of not fully supporting fracking or off-shore drilling.

Her ability to strike a balance between coming across as forceful but still likable, smart without talking down, is part of the reason that she’s leading all of the other candidates in a head-to-head contest with Democratic President Joe Biden.