Republican debate: Candidates brawl in showdown without Trump

Republican contenders clashed on stage at their first 2024 presidential debate, as they vied to displace the absent frontrunner Donald Trump.

Eight rivals took to the stage in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to brawl over issues from Ukraine to abortion.

While most were reluctant to attack Mr Trump, some of the hopefuls did take aim at the no-show former president.

The eventual winner will challenge the Democratic candidate, probably President Joe Biden, in November 2024.

On stage in the Fox News primetime showdown on Wednesday night were Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former Vice-President Mike Pence, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum.

Mr DeSantis - who is struggling to hold on to a distant second place as the early promise of his campaign stutters - vowed more than once to "send Biden back to his basement".

But although he occupied centre stage, the Florida governor struggled for the spotlight during the two-hour forum against rising star Vivek Ramaswamy, a billionaire political newcomer.

"Do you want a super PAC puppet," the 38-year-old son of Indian immigrants said, "or a patriot who speaks the truth">Republicans have won control of both chambers of Congress, yielding Trump limited congressional oversight for at least 2 years.