If the Trump campaign is in decline across the board, it’s partly because of J.D. Vance’s selection. Polls show that Trump/Vance’s approval rating in Vance’s home state of Ohio is less than 50%.
Before J.D. Vance plays a few shows on Sunday, keep in mind that, according to the New York Times:
Others are more concerned about what they’re seeing in private polls. Republican pollsters recently conducted two private polls in Ohio — Mr. Trump The 2020 election results showed him with less than 50 percent support in the state, with 53 percent against Ms. Harris, according to people with direct knowledge of the data.
That’s not to say Ohio will definitely play a role, but reporters and experts in the state would be surprised if Vance causes Trump to perform poorly there. J.D. Vance, who is unpopular in Ohio, won his seat because Trump’s endorsement gave him the Republican Senate primary nomination. Ohio’s increasingly red status, combined with the red hue of the 2022 midterm elections, gave Vance a victory.
However, Trump’s choice of running mate lagged behind other Republicans in the state in the election. Trump has chosen a vulnerable running mate with the lowest approval ratings in polling history, a choice that, along with Harris’ surge in momentum, is leaving him vulnerable in a state that should be primed for Republican votes.
If Ohio comes close in November, the wheels will completely come off for Trump, which could mean a Democratic landslide. Trump may not think a running mate matters, but if the former president loses Ohio, J.D. Vance will be at least part of the reason.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of Society of Professional Journalists and American Political Science Association
