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- Donald Trump was unmentioned for large stretches of Wednesday's GOP presidential debate.
- But it's not clear that the former president lost anything by skipping the affair.
- A segment devoted to Trump's indictments underlined his stranglehold on the party.
For almost an hour, America saw a Republican presidential primary debate without former President Donald Trump looks like. Then, they were reminded who the frontrunner really is.
A segment focused on the former president's four indictments turned into a rollicking focus group that showcased his stranglehold on the GOP. In the end, skipping the affair may not end up as an undisputed win. But when you're up by double-digits with less than six months before the Iowa caucuses, time is on your side.