Jaws without the shark: absent Trump looms over Republicans’ first debate

Burgum, Christie, DeSantis, Haley, Pence, Ramaswamy and Scott will be present in Milwaukee on Wednesday but will anyone dent ex-president's lead?

It may end up being Hamlet without the prince or, perhaps more aptly, Jaws without the shark.

When Republicans gather in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Wednesday for the first debate of the presidential primary season, a milestone in any election campaign cycle, the clear frontrunner in the opinion polls will be missing.