Yet the former president’s absence created an opening, if an illusory one, for a broader array of conservative positions.
Republicans have long discussed the far-off notion of what Trumpism without Mr. Trump would look like.
Since his rise eight years ago, Mr. Trump has sucked the oxygen out of Republican gatherings, from the halls of Congress to the fairgrounds of Iowa.
The manufactured environment of the debate seemed to remind Republicans what it was like to breathe, politically speaking, in Trumpless rooms.
Former Vice President Mike Pence supported a federal ban.
Persons:
Trump, Brett Baier, ”, Chris Christie, Asa Hutchinson, Mike Pence, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, “, demonizing
Organizations:
Republicans, Fox News, Trump, Gov
Locations:
Milwaukee, New Jersey, Arkansas, Iowa, Trumpless, Florida, South Carolina