Former President Donald Trump emerged victorious from the opening 2024 Republican primary debate despite not taking his place behind the podium center stage.

The eight qualifying candidates — Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, and Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND), all desperately requiring airtime to turbocharge their support and fundraising as Trump averages a 40 percentage point lead over nearest rival DeSantis nationally — pitched themselves and undermined one another as voters start tuning into the election.

DEBATE: WITH FRONT-RUNNER TRUMP OUT, WILL GOP VOTERS TUNE IN?

But some did a better job than others. Here's the Washington Examiner's list of winners and losers from the first event, hosted by Fox News in Milwaukee.

WINNERS

Ramaswamy

Ramaswamy, who downplayed his debate preparation as expectations increased in tandem with his poll numbers, sidestepped criticism, moves he previewed with a social media video of him playing tennis beforehand. The entrepreneur, who referenced his low name identification as a "skinny kid with a funny last name" like former President Barack Obama, had come under pressure for contradicting himself, in addition to his comments implicating the federal government in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Ramaswamy, who described climate change as a "hoax" and was the only candidate who would not support Ukraine's defense against Russia, particularly took incoming from Pence, who dismissed him as "a rookie." Christie also compared the businessman to ChatGPT.

"I'm not sure I understand Mike Pence's comment," Ramaswamy said.

"Let me explain it to you, Vivek. I'll do it a little bit slower this time," Pence responded.

“Now that everyone’s got their pre-canned lines out of the way," Ramaswamy added.

“Was that one of yours?” the former vice president replied.

But Republican strategist Cesar Conda condemned Ramaswamy for breaking former President Ronald Reagan's 11th commandment by contending "everyone onstage was 'bought and paid for.'"

"Vivek comes off as too flippant and inexperienced," he said. "He's attacking everyone as 'bought and paid for' went too far."

GOP strategist Alex Conant agreed that "Vivek and DeSantis reinforced their flaws."

Pence

Pence avoided embarrassment by making the debate, and he left other candidates red-faced with his more assertive posture, as opposed to his more meek and mild public persona. The former vice president was additionally helped by a round of questions about how he certified the 2020 Electoral College results.

"Mike did his duty. I got no beef with him," DeSantis said.

Haley

Notwithstanding being the first person onstage to announce their campaign, and the only woman candidate, Haley's bid has not gained momentum, even with her strong ground game. The former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina governor's debate appearance was predicated on her foreign policy credentials, using them against Ramaswamy after his remarks regarding Ukraine and Israel.

"This guy is a murderer, and you are choosing a murderer," Haley said of Ramaswamy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Under your watch, you will make America less safe. You have no foreign policy experience, and it shows."

Haley was the first aspirant to mention Trump, saying the former president "added $8 trillion to our debt, and our kids are never going to forgive us." She differentiated herself with her nuanced abortion position as well.

Conda, the strategist, underscored Haley's performance as "smart, substantive, and compelling."

"She took on Washington Republicans, including President Trump, who share blame for increasing spending and the national debt," he said.

"Scott and Haley did well," Conant added, "but not enough to change the race."

Burgum

Burgum may have hobbled onto the stage after falling during a pickup basketball game, but he hobbled off it with better name recognition because of the mishap, having been warmly welcomed at the beginning.

"I think I took it too literally when they said go to Milwaukee and break a leg," the governor said.

Trump

Trump counterprogrammed the debate with a prerecorded Tucker Carlson interview broadcast on X, formerly known as Twitter, before he surrenders himself at the Fulton County Jail in Georgia concerning his fourth criminal arraignment during prime time on Thursday. Regardless, he won the event because the other candidates not only did not appear to be an alternative to the former president, but most defended him.

"We will be tallying the number of times President Trump’s name is brought up and his total ‘speaking time,’ even though he is not in attendance," Trump campaign spokesman Chris LaCivita said earlier Wednesday. "Tonight’s Republican undercard event really shouldn’t even be called a debate but rather an audition to be a part of President Trump’s team in his second term."

Republican strategist Doug Heye emphasized the importance of Trump not being in attendance.

"All of the 'who won' talk is conjecture without Trump there," he said. "This is rearranging the deck chairs on a boat that's tied to the dock."

Conant concurred: "Trump’s the big winner. Nobody laid a glove on him. Voters supporting Trump before tonight still do. Nobody broke through."

LOSERS

DeSantis

DeSantis faced the highest expectations, escalated by his super PAC Never Back Down's circulation of a strategy memo, although his aides tried to counter the anticipation by repeating the debate would be a "pile on" the governor. But the second-place candidate, who has stalled in polls and is running out of money, was ignored by his opponents after being asked the first question about the "Rich Men North of Richmond," recycling much of his stump speech onstage.

For Conda, the strategist, DeSantis was "solid and steady but [did not have] a breakout moment."

Christie

Christie's campaign was premised on the promise he would cut down Trump during a debate, but his scrutiny was blunted by the former president's absence. Instead, the governor, who was booed when he was introduced, deployed his prosecutorial experience against the other candidates, especially Ramaswamy, and President Joe Biden's son Hunter. He and Hutchinson were the only hopefuls who declined to express their support for Trump should he become the nominee.

At the same time, Christie demonstrated a softer side when he stood by his tax reforms as a blue-state governor.

Scott

Scott's rise in national and first-in-the-nation polls has not escaped the notice of the other candidates, with his opponents indirectly undercutting his record on the campaign trail. But onstage, his rivals and the moderators directly pressed him on what he has done as a senator to reduce federal government spending. On the other hand, aside from a friendly interaction with the moderators about the buzzer, he failed to stand out.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Hutchinson, and moderators Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum

The trio struggled to insert themselves into the debate, for instance, when Baier and MacCallum inquired whether the candidates believed human behavior exacerbated climate change. They similarly could not control the audience during the Trump questions.