Why the Debate Didn’t End Tuesday

Tuesday night’s GOP debate in Milwaukee was less of a personal food fight than a stark display of the divisions within the GOP one year out from Election Day. On a range of domestic and foreign issues, the candidates’ disagreements were at the forefront, though the party didn’t move far to resolve them. The debate was notable for its lack of clear winners or losers that would otherwise shake up the race. With under three months until the first votes are cast, what’s clear is that the large field will stay large for the foreseeable future, with the battle over the soul of the GOP continuing through the early primary states, if not all the way until next November.

Marco Rubio continued to score big in the debate, reinforcing his message that he presents a generational change from Hillary Clinton and many of his Republican rivals. While he skirted much substantive policy, he’ll be rewarded for his powerful defense of military spending in a heated exchange with Rand Paul. Under fresh scrutiny, Ben Carson also emerged unscathed, despite questions about his personal narrative and shaky answers on foreign policy. The soft-spoken neurosurgeon showed a glimpse of fire as he defended his record, and his increasing share of GOP fans saw little to change their minds about him. Carly Fiorina once again emerged on the debate stage, inserting herself into conversations on foreign policy and tax issues. While she focused on style more than specifics, she reversed a slide toward irrelevance after her last poor showing. Seeking a breakout moment, Ted Cruz turned his aim briefly on Rubio, whom he sees as his greatest long-term threat to the nomination. The hit over sugar subsidies only resonated inside the Beltway, but it is a preview of a showdown to come. The Texan’s overall strategy was to introduce himself to more GOP voters, as he seeks to slice off pieces of the Trump and Carson coalitions—a strategy he furthered with a solid showing.

After a miserable showing in the previous debate, Jeb Bush didn’t set out to score a win—just a passing grade. He got that. Bush used the policy-focused debate as an opportunity to wonk out, but while it stopped the death watch, it fell short of beginning a comeback. Bush needs more solid debate performances, but also to find other ways to invigorate voters at scale. Donald Trump struggled on policy and at times seemed to fade into the backdrop. At one point, he suggested that all wages were too high in response to a question on the minimum wage. But at the end of the debate, he lived to fight another day, which is all a front-runner could ask for.

Paul picked the fight over defense spending with Rubio in hopes to regain his appeal with libertarian voters, and while Rubio’s position appeals to the majority of the GOP, Paul may have helped his case among his loyal constituency. But he did little to expand his reach into the rest of the GOP Tuesday night, as his narrow path to the nomination remains just that. John Kasich again came out swinging against Donald Trump, dominating the first quarter of the debate by spotlighting the fiscal downsides of many of his rivals’ economic plans. His frequent interruptions, though, may have crossed the line from aggressive debating into rudeness.

Here are your must-reads:

Must Reads

GOP Debate Highlights Long, Contentious Road To Nomination
The fight over the soul of the GOP is only heating up [TIME]

What You Missed While Not Watching the Milwaukee Republican Debate
TIME’s Michael Scherer sums it up

Chris Christie Proves His Mettle in Undercard
He got bumped from the main stage, but kept the focus on Hillary Clinton to earn himself a spot back [TIME]

How Fox Business Played It Safe at the Republican Debate
Newly-minted TIME TV critic Daniel D’Addario on how the network sought to avoid ruffling feathers

Sound Off

“I know that Rand is a committed isolationist” — Sen. Marco Rubio firing back at Sen. Rand Paul’s criticism of his support for bolstering defense spending

“They’re doing high-fives in the Clinton campaign when they hear this.” — Jeb Bush making the general election contrast with Donald Trump’s call for a border wall with Mexico

Bits and Bites

Hillary Clinton Pledges to Overhaul the VA and Tackle Wait Times [TIME]

White House to Host Summit Focusing on Women and Girls of Color [TIME]

New ‘Baby Got PAC’ Super PAC to Back Marco Rubio [TIME]

TIME’s Rana Foroohar: For Republicans, Growth Is Still All About Supply Side [TIME]

Watch Rand Paul and Marco Rubio Spar over Military Spending [TIME]

Watch GOP Candidates Argue Against Raising the Minimum Wage [TIME]

Watch Bobby Jindal Take On Chris Christie at Undercard Debate [TIME]

Jimmy Carter Is Responding Well to Cancer Treatment [TIME]