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On November 9, 2023, five Republican also-rans got together to tell us why they should be their party’s nominee. What follows is a transcript of the first round of questions from the moderator, Lester Holt of NBC News. Because politicians tend to be verbose, and, on occasion, evasively circumlocutory, I have lightly edited each response to reflect the candidate’s actual thoughts. I have also tweaked the order of march, as it makes no difference (and fixed Lester’s grammar, but never mind that.)
Lester Holt:
Governor DeSantis, let me begin with you on this one. Speak to Republican voters who are supporting Donald Trump. Why should you and not he be the Republican nominee to face Joe Biden a year from now?
Gov. Ron DeSantis:
Because Donald Trump is an incompetent bozo, a traitor, a rapist, a thief, and a liar, and I’m only a petulant, peevish pissant.
Lester Holt:
Ambassador Haley, why you and not the former president?
Nikki Haley:
Because Donald Trump is an incompetent bozo, a traitor, a rapist, a thief, and a liar, and I’m only a person who pretended not to know so eight years ago.
Lester Holt: