INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
WASHINGTON: The skinny guy with a funny last name, who happens to be of Indian-origin, made quiet a splash in first Republican Presidential
debate on Wednesday with the shadow of two former Presidents hanging over it
Vivek Ramaswamy, the Ohio-born Indian-American entrepreneur, invoked Barack Obama's self-deprecating line from 2004 to present himself as an
anti-establishment outsider in the Republican field even as he embraced Donald Trump's vision for America, calling him the best president of
the 21st century.This led to put-downs that he was auditioning for the vice-presidential ticket in aTrump nomination.Trump himself, leader
of the pack in almost every poll, stayed away from the debate, preferring to do a one-on-one interview with commentator Tucker Carlson
because of a thing called TRUTH
But other Republican contenders went after Ramaswamy, and in the process pitchforked him centerstage as the Indian-American flame-baited the
field to garner plenty of airtime
"The last person who stood up here saying, 'What's a skinny guy with an odd last name doing up here?' was Barack Obama and I'm afraid we're
dealing with the same type of amateur standing on the stage tonight," former New Jersey governor Chris Christie sneered
Obama had used precisely that line to announce himself at the 2004 Democratic National Convention when he just a freshman Senator with an
eye on the White House.Evocative of the changing political lexicon in the AI era, Christie said Ramaswamy "sounds like ChatGPT" and
repeatedly taunted him as an "amateur."05:36Tech tycoon Vivek Ramaswamy becomes second Indian-American to announce US Presidential bid,
watch his campaign videoOther candidates also attacked Ramaswamy, with former South Carolina Governor and US ambassador to US Nikki Haley
jabbing at his lack of international experience saying his policy on Ukraine, China and Israel would make America less safe, and former Vice
President Mike Pence called him a "rookie" who had no relevant experience."I mean, frankly, he has an agenda of appeasement on the world
I hope viewers got a better sense
Ramaswamy lashed back, mocking that Christie was merely angling for a cable news contributor contract and wishing Haley the best "in your
future career on the boards of Lockheed Martin and Raytheon" -- a jab at her ties to the defense industry.Ramaswamy's embrace of Trump
didn't stop with policies
He was also the first candidate to raise a hand when asked who would support the former president as the party nominee if he is convicted on
Trump's former vice-president who has fallen out with him
Pence shied away from answering
Ramaswamy's aides claimed he was a clear winner in the debate notwithstanding the various smackdowns aimed at him, saying it was a "Vivek
versus the GOP establishment" show and he dominated the night
Post-debate surveys suggested as much, with Florida governor Ron DeSantis, once a frontrunner in the GOP field, clearly overshadowed, also
although his aides claimed he did not want to "beclown" himself before "naive" and "childish" opponents.02:13Donald Trump gives it a miss,
Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley among 8 contenders at Republican Presidential debateWatchUS Republican Presidential debate: Indian-American
Vivek Ramaswamy attacked for being a 'rookie'
