'A very proud moment': GOP debate gave Tuscaloosa a chance to shine

From inside the University of Alabama's Moody Concert Hall, draped and lit as a stage for the fourth GOP presidential debate, Tuscaloosa looked good, and the night overall felt vital, said Mayor Walt Maddox.

"I don't know how it looked on television, because we couldn't see monitors, but inside the hall, it was fantastic," he said. "The way that it looked, with the lighting, and that setting ...." And despite some complaints from locals, he said, the Holtkamp) organ pipes weren't entirely obscured.

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"It really felt like a very important moment, and it was an honor that it took place in Tuscaloosa," he said.

The four candidates, combative at times, seemed each to pull significant supporter numbers, Maddox said.

"It was certainly a Republican crowd. Going by the applause, there were different divisions. And though it seemed fairly evenly split, it felt like a majority Gov. (Ron) DeSantis and Nikki Haley crowd. But we also heard significant support for Vivek Ramaswamy and Chris Christie."

Kip Tyner, District 1 City Council member and a longtime television personality locally, noted high energy, especially at the top.

"It appeared at first that Nikki Haley maybe had the crowd, but I think that changed somewhat," Tyner said. "Maybe in the end, DeSantis seemed to have the upper hand. He seemed to be the winner, if there is a winner."

What could come across as combative cross-talk onstage wasn't matched by crowd reaction, Maddox said.

"For the most part, I thought the hall was rather contained, and only when it felt candidates had superseded the moderators was there booing and injecting," the mayor said.

Several times throughout the two-hour NewsNation-televised debate, moderators Elizabeth Vargas, from NewsNation, Megyn Kelly and Eliana Johnson struggled to regain control as candidates exceeded time, stepped on others' speeches and occasionally threw out personal, emotional remarks seemingly aimed not at policies, but at personalities.

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During breaks when the cameras were off, makeup artists touching up the candidates, Tyner saw what appeared to be real animosity from Haley, who kept her head down, writing.

"DeSantis and Ramaswamy, they were always talking, almost like two buddies; just little things you could tell, like a little fist to the shoulder. It seemed like 'OK, we're playing a part here,' " Tyner said. After that pair called out Haley for alleged allegiance to big-money donors, "I didn't even see her crack a smile after that."

As the only candidate who consistently spoke about the elephant not in the room, (Donald) Trump carrying a large lead despite not showing up for any debates, Christie ".... got booed a lot," Tyner said. "Anytime he put Trump down, he got booed.

"I think it's what most people think: He's in the race just to be mean to Trump," he said, laughing. "There was some laughter when he kept saying (mainly to DeSantis and Ramaswamy) that 'You're not answering the question.' "

Christie said the other three were dodging questions, and were afraid to offend Trump. If they were afraid to offend the former president, they'd struggle to face down powerful world leaders, he said. "You have to be willing to offend with the truth," said the former governor of New Jersey.

"I think everybody loves the zinger, but in the end, they don't like negative," Tyner said.

Despite the argumentative mood, candidates did underline and clarify positions, Maddox said.

"Of course, I'm biased (about this debate over the previous three), but I felt like this one had a little bit more substance to it, from Taiwan to the parents roles in decision-making in regard to transgender issues," which could be an assist to voters looking to decide, Maddox said.

Regardless of who might have prevailed on stage, Tyner said he doesn't think any of those four will be the GOP candidate.

"I know that frustrates them to no end," he said. "I got the impression that there's no love lost, and they've probably had enough of each other," except for DeSantis and Ramaswamy. "I could actually see those two going out for a drink afterward."

Tyner said he spoke with NewsNation people and Republican National Committee members, including Ronna McDaniel, chair of the national party.

"They said 'We just have loved Tuscaloosa and the way we were treated. Everywhere we went, people were asking if they could help.' It was a very proud moment, very positive for Tuscaloosa, and for the University of Alabama," he said.

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On the whole, the event seemed professionally run, said Maddox, who during his two decades in politics has been on a few stages himself. "No candidate ever feels like they're given enough time. I think it went about as well as possible, with four (tyoe) A-personality candidates," Maddox said

Aside from what could be seen and heard over NewsNation, the CW, Sirius Xm and Rumble, there was a sensation of import in the hall, he said.

"It felt like a very monumental moment for Tuscaloosa, that we get to an opportunity to be part of the 2024 presidential election. You could sense the moment in the room," Maddox said. "It was a very unique experience for me, at an important point in our country's history."

Though talk did turn to college campuses, not much seemed pointed at UA, or the host city, other than an opening voiceover saying "It's game day in Alabama, and who knows what the tide will roll in?"

"Much as we were honored to host this debate, as much as it meant to our community and our state, the candidates are focused on Iowa, and New Hampshire and South Carolina," Maddox said.

Each candidate knows if they don't make an impact, none will likely overcome former president Trump's lead in the polls.

"It wasn't raucous, but it was intense," Maddox said. "There was a level of intensity and anticipation, and I don't think the candidates disappointed."

For hours following the 9 p.m. close, Tuscaloosa will be in the lexicon of thousands of media outlets, "and that's a positive," Maddox said.

"I feel proud that Tuscaloosa and the University of Alabama have really risen to the occasion. But we always do."

Reach Mark Hughes Cobb at mark.cobb@tuscaloosanews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: 'Proud moment': GOP debate offered Tuscaloosa a chance to shine