NASHUA – Former President Donald Trump was still the center of conversation despite his decision to skip the Republican presidential debate on Aug. 23.

His decision to avoid the debate did not seem to effect his standing in the polls as he still had 58 percent of the vote in the Republican Primary, according to figures released by Morning Consult on Aug. 24. Trump is followed by Florida Gov. DeSantis, who has 14 percent, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who has 11 percent and former Vice President Mike Pence, who has six percent.

Despite Trump’s sizable lead, Gov. Chris Sununu said the former president is not invincible.

“It starts in Iowa and New Hampshire, ignore the national polls that show he is leading, they are meaningless,” he said. “In states where voters are paying attention, Donald Trump is struggling with poll numbers consistently in the low 40 percent range. If last night’s debate showed us anything, it’s what the future of the Republican Party can look like after moving on from the drama of Donald Trump.”

State Rep. Suzanne Vail also believes Trump is beatable.

“My Republican constituents tell me they are done with Trump and extremists, ever since Stop The Steal,” she said.

Vail also maintained that there are no Republican candidates who are suitable for the Oval Office.

“Nevertheless, the Republicans basically have no one who is prepared for the job of president,” she said. “I don’t see a winning strategy emerging on their side.”

Ward 4 Alderman Thomas Lopez said the 91 criminal charges against Trump could make him his own worst enemy.

“No GOP candidate in history has ever had a better chance of beating Donald Trump than Donald Trump,” said Lopez.

Board of Education member Paula Johnson said she did not watch the debate as she has no interest in any of the other candidates.

“I know that President Trump is going to win the election,” she said.

Johnson also maintained that Trump has done nothing wrong.

“They’re just singling out this man because he just might make America great again,” she said.

In addition, Johnson called attention to Al Gore, who ran for president in 2000 and Stacey Abrams, who ran for governor of Georgia in 2018. She said both candidates challenged the outcome of their elections after coming up short. Yet, no legal action was taken against Gore or Abrams.

Aida Ross, spokesperson for the New Hampshire Democratic Party, said none of the candidates addressed the issues that matter to the Granite State’s working class.

“These Republicans reaffirmed how hellbent they are on lining the pockets of the ultra-wealthy while leaving working families behind, taking away reproductive freedoms and gutting important programs like Social Security and Medicare,” she said. “When these candidates return to New Hampshire, they’ll have to answer for every extreme, out-of-touch position they pushed tonight.”

Peter Silva, chairman of the Nashua Republican City Committee, said the debate was a clear example of the “classic Republican Establishment” and referred to former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie as a “hired assassin.”

He has also been disappointed with DeSantis’ performance thus far.

“I’m not sure why he’s not gaining more traction,” said Silva.

In addition, he said Trump made the right choice by not taking part in the debate.

“The one who won the debate is Trump, by not being there,” he said, highlighting Trump’s lead in the polls. “It’s never happened before, it’s crazy.”