Disbelief flashed across Vivek Ramaswamy’s face.
The Republican presidential candidates, minus the front-runner, were 42 minutes into their first debate when former Vice President Mike Pence took issue with the young businessman’s claim that America was gripped by a national identity crisis.
“We’re not looking for a new national identity,” said Mr. Pence, 64.
“The American people are the most faith-filled, freedom-loving, idealistic, hard-working people the world has ever known.”“It is not morning in America,” Mr. Ramaswamy, 38, shot back in his rapid-fire Harvard debating style.
Yet here was an upstart candidate, with no record of public service, standing at center stage in a G.O.P.
Persons:
Vivek Ramaswamy’s, Mike Pence, “, ”, Pence, ” Mr, Ramaswamy, Ronald Reagan, Reagan’s, Reagan, —
Organizations:
Republican, Harvard
Locations:
America