The eight Republican presidential hopefuls who participated in Wednesday night's spirited, and at times unruly debate, went after one another over their ages and qualifications, and their positions on a federal abortion ban and on increasing aid to Ukraine.

They debated whether America has a national identity crisis, whether they would authorize lethal force at the southern border, and whether climate change is a "hoax."

But the eight candidates were generally loath to delve too deep into one critical subject — the subject that Fox New moderator Bret Baier called the "elephant not in the room"— Donald Trump, the former president who is crushing them all in the polls and who refused to even attend the event, choosing instead to sit for an online interview with former Fox host Tucker Carlson.

Trump was mostly ignored for the first hour of the two-hour debate in Milwaukee, Wis. When Baier did bring up the former president — asking the candidates to raise their hands if they would vow to support a Trump candidacy if he were convicted in one of his four indictments — all but two said they would, Chris Christie and Asa Hutchinson, the former governor of New Jersey and Arkansas, respectively. When given a chance to expound on their views of January 6 and Trump's multiple pending criminal cases, several of the candidates quickly pivoted to lambasting the Department of Justice, casting Trump's four indictments as the product of political bias.

Rather than go down the Trump rabbit hole, Scott laid into the Biden DOJ, vowing to fire Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray for alleged abuses including targeting parent school-board protesters and pro-life activists. "It is time for change in America," he said. "And I will bring that change."

Anti-woke entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who seemed happy to take arrows all night, and to get plenty of screen time in the process, said he believed that Trump was "the best president of the 21^st Century," adding, "It's a fact."

Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, who served as Trump's United Nations ambassador, said she trusted the American people to pick their nominees, but added that the American people believe "it's time for a new generational conservative leader."

Florida governor Ron DeSantis, who many have viewed as best suited to dethrone Trump from the top of the GOP, but who struggled to make much of a splash on Wednesday, seemed to try to dodge a question about whether Mike Pence, who was Trump's vice president, was right to certify the 2020 election, despite Trump's call for him not to.

“Mike did his duty. I have no beef with him,” DeSantis conceded.

This election is not about January 6, 2021, DeSantis said. "We have to focus on our future, we have to focus on reversing the decline of our country," he said, trying to turn the conversation away from Trump. Baier noted that Trump was beating him badly in the polls.

Pence, who was feisty throughout the night, mixing it up with Ramaswamy and at one point getting called out by Baier for talking over him, said he was asked by Trump to prioritize him over the Constitution. "I chose the Constitution, and I always will," he said.

Christie, the loudest Trump critic in the bunch, said to loud boos that whether or not people think the criminal charges against Trump are right or wrong, the former president's "conduct is beneath the office of the United States."

With an expected audience of millions, Wednesday night's Republican presidential debate was seen by many as a key opportunity for the eight candidates on stage to pitch themselves as the GOP's best alternative to take on Trump in the primary.

With a massive lead in most polls, Trump has portrayed himself as the inevitable Republican nominee. A new national CBS poll showed Trump with the support of 62 percent of GOP voters —DeSantis was second, far behind with 16 percent support.

But the former president's lead is slightly narrower in some of the early-voting states — his support is at less than 50 percent in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, according to Real Clear Politics polling averages. He has also been indicted four times since March, and he could potentially be convicted and sent to prison before Election Day.

Because of that, the other GOP candidates see an opportunity to shake up the race by consolidating the anti-Trump vote, gaining the support of some of the former president's less engaged backers, and winning one of those early states.

Although the primary race has been ongoing for months, it is likely that many Republican primary voters have not paid close attention yet to the race. Wednesday's debate was an opportunity for Trump's challengers to make their case to those voters.

The debate started with a discussion on economics, framed through the lens of the viral folk song Rich Men North of Richmond. Asked why the song about economic alienation was striking a nerve, DeSantis led with a talking point. "Our country is in decline. This decline is inevitable, it is a choice," he said, taking a shot at Congress. "Those rich men north of Richmond have put us in this position."

Christy said spending by Congress is "robbing our country, and it is wrong." South Carolina Senator Tim Scott championed the tax cut package he helped to write and pass. "If you don't send it to Washington, we can't spend it," he said.

Ramaswamy introduced himself as a "skinny guy with the funny last name," a line that drew comparisons to how Barack Obama introduced himself at the 2004 Democratic National Convention as a "skinny kid with a funny name."

At 38, Ramaswamy was the youngest candidate on stage and the most spirited – throwing verbal punches at his competitors and taking some of the more extreme positions of the night. He called the other candidates "Super PAC puppets." He said "I'm the only one on the stage that isn't bought and paid for." He called climate change a "hoax." When asked if they opposed more funding for Ukraine, Ramaswamy's hand went up first and highest. DeSantis hedged.

"Ukraine is not a priority for the United States of America," Ramaswamy said.

Haley sparred with Ramaswamy, saying a win for Russia in Ukraine is a win for China. "You have no foreign policy experience, and it shows," Haley told Ramaswamy.

Christy called Ramaswamy an "amateur." Pence called Ramaswamy a "rookie."

"Now is not the time for on-the-job training," Pence said.

Pence sparred again with Ramaswamy after Ramaswamy said that America is "in the middle of a national identity crisis," and that "people are so hungry for purpose and meaning."

"We don't have a national identity crisis," Pence shot back. "We just need a government as good as our people."

Ramaswamy replied that it is "not morning in America. We live in a dark moment."

The candidates are all pro-life, but debated the practicality of pushing for a national abortion ban. Haley said passing a national ban would be impossible without winning 60 votes in the Senate. Pence vowed to be a "champion for life in the Oval Office."

Scott said he supports a national abortion ban at 15 weeks, "minimum."

"We cannot let states like California, New York, and Illinois have abortions on demand up until the day of birth," he said. "It is immoral. It is unethical. It is wrong."

DeSantis said he didn't regret signing a six-week ban in Florida, even though some have said he needs to moderate on the issue. "You have to do what you think is right," he said, recalling hearing his oldest daughter's heartbeat for the first time. "I believe in a culture of life."

North Dakota governor Doug Burgum, who appeared stiff and uncomfortable at times — he was hospitalized with a torn Achilles before the debate — made a pitch for electing a president who understands small towns. Burgum and Hutchinson struggled for attention throughout the night.

Several candidates vowed to fight hard against the fentanyl crisis. DeSantis said he would authorize lethal force at the southern border, and said "darn right" he would treat Mexican cartels at terrorists.

Christy laughed when he was asked if he would level with the American people about UFO encounters. "I get the UFO question? Come on, man," he said.

The Republicans picked Wisconsin to hold their first presidential debate for a reason: it is one of the few real 2024 swing states, and a state where four of the past six presidential elections have been decided by less than a percentage point.

The second GOP debate is scheduled for September 27, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif. More debates are expected to be scheduled in the coming months.

To make it on the debate stage, the candidates had to meet polling and contribution criteria. They were also required to sign a pledge to support the eventual Republican nominee.

Miami mayor Francis Suarez, former Texas representative Will Hurd, conservative radio host Larry Elder, and Michigan businessman and author Perry Johnson were among the Republican candidates who didn't qualify for the debate stage, according to the party.

Ahead of the debate, Democratic leaders attempted to paint the Republican candidates as radicals who are out of touch. They also tried align those candidates with Trump, who is viewed unfavorably by most Americans, despite his support among Republican voters.

"No matter who they pick, this group is as extreme as it gets — a bag full of MAGA apples, and they are all rotten," Democratic Party Chair Jaime Harrison said on Wednesday.

When asked what his expectations were for the debate, President Joe Biden, vacationing in Lake Tahoe, said only, "I have none."