Who came out on top of the first GOP debate?

Winners of political debates are often subjective and intensely debated, but some candidates appeared to get a bump in their bid for the White House following the first clash between Republican rivals.

Fox News’ Power Ranking moved Vivek Ramaswamy up into third place this week continued improvement in polling. Ramaswamy appeared center stage during the political showdown opposite Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

According to voters in a Wall Street Journal poll, Ramaswamy performed best out of any candidate at the first debate. Thirty-five percent of people who watched or heard about the event said he "exceeded expectations.”

Nikki Haley, former Governor of South Carolina, also received a boost from the debate, with 27% of voters in the same poll saying she exceeded expectations in Milwaukee.

Fox News host Howard Kurtz observed that the pundits got several things wrong after the debate in Milwaukee.

"Nikki Haley came off as sensible and reasonable–but passionate on foreign policy–yet that may not be what the party wants this cycle.

"And Vivek Ramaswamy was a remarkably adept debater, though he kept interrupting, and on substance–from climate change is a hoax to Ukraine is not a priority–he will invite more media scrutiny."