Six GOP debaters would vote for Trump even if he's convicted of felonies.

That was disappointing to former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, who tells all on the political junkie.

You like Ike, I like I, everybody likes I for president.

Add light to you, and think to me, I don't care how you quoted. Come on and vote for Kennedy, vote for president. Add light to you and lead to me. I don't care how you quoted.

Come on and vote for Kennedy, vote for Kennedy, and we'll come out on top.

Vote for Richard Nixon and Henry Cabot Lodge, because they're the ones to lead the USA.

Thanks for joining us, and welcome to episode 400 of the political junkie.

I'm Ken Rudin.

Donald Trump's decision to skip Wednesday's debate in Milwaukee was anything but a surprise.

The thought that the former president, currently under four separate indictments,

would want to be on a stage and have tomatoes thrown at him by some of his Republican opponents,

never made sense. Of course, in fairness, Trump manages to give far more than he takes in every debate

he's attended. We saw that in 2016. Plus, why, given that polls show him with a double-digit

lead for the nomination over every rival, should he give them attention? So, while he was having

his little love fest with Tucker, eight other Republicans tried to make their own case why they should be

president. And surprisingly, we

learn more than we imagined. First and most important, is Ron DeSantis really Trump's leading

challenger? You'd never know it based on Wednesday night. We entered the debate wondering if

he would follow the script suggested by a friendly super pack

advising him what to say. Defend Donald Trump, whenever Chris Christie unloads on him,

attacked Joe Biden and the media, clobber of Vivek Ramoswamy, whom polls indicate is moving up.

So, would he come out swinging? Would he become a scripted robot?

...