CNN —Republicans are trying to read the tea leaves after the first GOP primary debate. Former President Donald Trump, the current Republican frontrunner who is contending with four indictments, skipped the debate entirely. And with a dozen other candidates still vying for the GOP nomination, political pundits are trying to figure out where the party is headed. Join us on Twitter and FacebookAny news that emerged from the debate was soon overwhelmed by Trump and his booking in Fulton County, Georgia. Right now, the other GOP candidates can’t compete with the media attention, the love of Republican voters and the campaign dollars that are being heaped onto Trump.

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Persons: Julian Zelizer, Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, Mike Pence, Trump, Haley, Pence, Vivek Ramaswamy, Victor Smith, Ron DeSantis, Carolina Sen, Tim Scott, –, Ramaswamy, Asa Hutchinson, Chris Christie, didn’t, Hutchinson, Michael Tomasky Organizations: CNN, Princeton University, New York Times, America, Twitter, Republicans, Republican, GOP, UN, South Carolina Gov, Trump, Politico, ”, ” Florida Gov, Arkansas Gov, New, New Jersey Gov, Facebook Locations: ” Florida, Carolina, New Jersey, Georgia, New Republic, Fulton County , Georgia