How much effect does a poor VP choice have in the campaign? Trump might find out

Does a VP choice matter?
It could this time
Not the same Trump
Odd moments
Unearthed videos and comments
Strange policy discussions
Polemic taxes reforms
Unflattering internet myths
A campaign strategy
Doubts
The Mountain Dew debacle
Voters are not happy
Other shortcomings
Trump's first choice
Doug Burgum's pros
Heirs' opinions
Does a VP choice matter?

When asked if picking JD Vance as a running was a mistake, former President Donald Trump said that VP choices rarely affect a presidential candidate's chances.

It could this time

Mr. Trump was not wrong. According to the NY Times, data shows that people tend to vote for the presidential candidate, not their partner. However, some analysts point out that this election might be different.

Not the same Trump

New Republic's Alex Shepard surfaced fundamental discussions Republicans should be having. Mr. Trump is not the same candidate who won the 2016 elections; he lacks stamina.

Odd moments

In the days since President Biden dropped out of the race, Trump has had a series of bizarre moments. He has struggled to regain momentum; in that context, JD Vance should support him.

Unearthed videos and comments

However, Vance has proven himself to be the opposite. He has brought the wrong kind of attention to the Trump campaign, highlighting the former president's most unappealing traits.

"Childless cat ladies"

Perhaps his most famous mishap was an old video from an interview with then-Fox anchor Tucker Carlson, in which he called Democrat women "childless cat ladies."

Strange policy discussions

Still, that was not the only scandal: his call for giving parents more voting rights than Americans with no children was mocked by Democrat lawmakers as "weird."

Polemic taxes reforms

His proposal to raise taxes on those without kids also offended some Republicans. According to the NY Times, Dave Portnoy, one of the internet's most prominent Trump supporters complained about it.

Unflattering internet myths

A week after his nomination, Vance trended on X for all the wrong reasons: a tweet with a false quote from his 2016 memoir 'Hillbilly Elegy' claimed he had intercourse with a couch.

A campaign strategy

According to the NY Times, the Harris campaign resurfaced most of Vance's videos and quotes. Officials told the newspaper that they were responsible for around 60%.

Doubts

However, JD Vance has lifted some specific doubts that other candidates wouldn't have, and his participation in the campaign has been underwhelming.

The Mountain Dew debacle

One of Vance's viral clips was from a rally after he was chosen as VP candidate. He attempted a joke about Democrats perceiving everything as racist but ended up bumbling about diet Mountain Dew.

Voters are not happy

According to CNN, GOP voters are not so sure about Vance either: his favorability rating immediately after the nomination was -6. The average for a new VP nominee has been +19 since 2000.

Other shortcomings

Aside from the viral videos and internet myths, the VP candidate has endorsed extremist books that say democracy is not the answer in a fight against "unhuman" liberals. He is also young and inexperienced.

Trump's first choice

In fact, according to NBC News' recount of how the former president chose Vance, his first choice was North Dakota governor Doug Burgum.

Doug Burgum's pros

Burgum's milder personality wouldn't have overtaken the presidential candidate's spotlight. He would have also moderated the image of the former Presidents to independent voters.

Heirs' opinions

According to the outlet, Mr. Trump consulted with his sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, who fiercely opposed Mr. Burgum and insisted on Vance. They ultimately changed their father's mind.

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