When Republicans took the stage in Milwaukee, they had a golden opportunity: a chance to have their voices heard without Donald Trump running roughshod over time limits and absorbing the majority of time speaking. And yet, so many of them sounded like they were fishing for soundbites and playing to the stereotype of the MAGA voter. They didn’t slay the golden goose. They killed their golden opportunity.

Strangest Ideological Shift: Asa Hutchison. One of the most moderate candidates on the stage, the former Arkansas Governor clearly pivoted to the right, where most of the other candidates are. This is not what you do when you barely qualify for the debate. But his answer about cooperation with Mexico on dealing with drug cartels was one of the best of the night.

John A. Tures is a professor of political science at LaGrange College in Georgia. He can be reached at jtures@lagrange.edu. His Twitter account is @JohnTures2.