GOP foes target brash Ramaswamy in second Republican debate | Opinion

Presidential contender Vivek Ramaswamy told supporters in a message emailed before Wednesday night’s debate that "I’ve got a target on my back."

He was right.

After his energetic, quick-thinking and verbose style scored points in the first Republican presidential debate, the 38-year-old Cincinnati-area native charged out of the box again in the second debate, in Simi Valley, Calif. He pledged to "unleash American exceptionalism" and urged unity, not division. He called the six other candidates on the stage "all good people."

They weren’t having it.

Vivek Ramaswamy targeted by fellow candidates in GOP debate

"We can’t trust you!" former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley exclaimed to Ramaswamy after criticizing him for personally using the Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok, which some fear could be used by the Chinese government to collect U.S. data and exert influence over American users.

"Honestly, every time I hear you, I feel a little dumber for what you say," Haley said.

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott ripped him for being "in business with the Chinese Communist Party" with his former company. The biotech entrepreneur responded, "we got the hell out of there," and said his new company doesn’t deal with China. Former Vice President Mike Pence poked fun at Ramaswamy for having skipped voting in some presidential elections and again criticized Ramaswamy for his conciliatory-sounding approach to Russia for the invasion of Ukraine.

Ramaswamy defended going on TikTok this month to make videos after earlier referring to it as "digital fentanyl." He said Wednesday night he would "ban addictive social media for children under 16" but said he began using TikTok as a way to connect with young people, which he said Republicans need to do more of.

'We need to win elections': Vivek Ramaswamy defends joining TikTok after criticizing addictive social media apps

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Ramaswamy: 'I’m the new guy here. And so I know I have to earn your trust'

Ramaswamy has been an early sensation in the Republican race, as well as a curiosity.

"I’m the new guy here. And so I know I have to earn your trust," he said Wednesday night. "What do you see? You see a young man who’s in a bit of a hurry. Maybe a little ambitious; bit of a know-it-all it seems at times.

"I’m here to tell you though that I don’t know it all. I will listen. I will have the best and brightest in this country…  advising me, probably many of the people on this stage included."

What does Ramaswamy really want?

Ramaswamy reminds me of when I covered the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s seemingly quixotic Democratic presidential bid in 1988. Like Ramaswamy, the civil rights leader was a political outsider seeking to make history − in Jackson’s case, to become the first Black nominee; in the Indian-American Ramaswamy’s case, the first Republican nominee of color.

The question that kept greeting Jackson was: "What does Jesse Want?” Jackson dismissed it as "insulting," implying he didn’t expect to win even though he believed he could. Jackson did rack up a string of primary victories and at one point led the field in delegates before Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis pulled ahead on his way to losing the general election to George H.W. Bush.

Ramaswamy, who was 3 then, faces the same skepticism in 2023. What does he really want? He’s the youngest, least-experienced candidate politically and has never held public office.

Former president Donald Trump has consistently led the field by substantial double-digit margins. Some political observers point to his praise of Trump, such as calling him "the best president of the 21^st century" in the first debate, as evidence his real goal is to be Trump’s running mate. He’s caught Trump’s eye and drawn his praise.

Others suspect he’s trying to build up a base for a future race. Some have suggested he wants to gain attention to his Strive Asset Management investment company based in the Columbus area.

Or, maybe he’s gathering material for his third book, following the success of "Woke Inc." and "Nation of Victims."

Politics: Donald Trump was a no-show for the second Republican debate. He still came out on top.

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Too soon to doubt Ramaswamy

Ramaswamy insists he’s running only to be president and will bring fresh energy and ideas to build upon Trump’s foundation and said Wednesday night he’ll take the "America First agenda to the next level."

And playing to Trump’s base could pay off if the former president’s mounting legal problems cripple his efforts to win a second term.

Considering that in barely seven months of campaigning Ramaswamy has gone from barely registering in polls to running third with double digits, it’s too soon to doubt him.

But as his GOP opponents made clear, his path is getting rockier.

Dan Sewell is a regular Opinion contributor. Contact him at his personal email: dsewellrojos@gmail.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Don't write off Ramaswamy, but GOP debate exposes his tough road ahead