Former President Donald Trump turned in a debate performance on Tuesday night more notable for the memes he generated about not having plans and eating dogs than it was for any attacks he landed on Vice President Kamala Harris.

So far, for Republicans, the reaction has been more of an exasperated sigh than a primal scream of despair. Having seen Trump struggle to stay on message for virtually his entire career in elected politics and having seen him lose debates in the past without sinking his electoral hopes, leading GOP figures are mostly in grin and bear it mode at the moment, trying to take comfort in Trumps still-existing advantages on immigration and economic issues.

Kamala definitely won the debate. But its not going to move the needle, insisted Mike Davis, a former top GOP aide to the Senate Judiciary Committee and an informal adviser to the former president. Trump could have ended the campaign last night. He didnt. But Kamala isnt going to win. Economy and border.

It was a bad night. I dont think it sets any outcome in stone, but I think Kamala will get a bump in support. And her stellar performance really hurts Trumps argument that shes unprepared, weak and incompetent, said Matt Wolking, an aide to Trumps 2020 campaign.

Like many other conservatives, Wolking pointed a finger at ABC News anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis, but said Trump also failed to counter the vice president: She was incredibly dishonest but executed well, and largely was let off the hook by the moderators and Trump. She tried to get him to go off topic, and he took the bait every time.

On Capitol Hill, most Republican senators tacitly acknowledged Trump missed key opportunities against Harris, but they countered that he would ultimately prevail on the issues in November.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who faulted Trumps prep team for his poor performance following Tuesdays debate, told reporters he wished the former president had responded differently when Harris baited him into discussing his rally sizes. Why do so many people come to my rally? Theyre hurting, they cant fill up their car and buy their groceries, Graham said, offering a better-sounding answer to the question than Trump gave.

I think the contrast could have been drawn more sharply on what her policies have done over the last 3 1/2 years, said Sen. Shelly Moore Capito (R-W.Va.). Thats what I would have focused on.

But Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) offered a more blunt assessment, saying she didnt believe Trump did well because of his inability to stay on message.

He was very quick to rise to every piece of bait that was thrown. And that doesnt show the discipline that a good debater on the campaign trail should show, Murkowski told HuffPost.