Vance: Trump running mate vows to fight for 'forgotten' America

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses Donald Trump's selection of JD Vance as his vice-presidential running mate for the 2024 US presidential election. It highlights Vance's speech at the Republican National Convention, where he vowed to fight for "forgotten" working-class Americans and positioned Trump as the "last best hope" for the country.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Vance's Speech at the Republican Convention

1. What were the key points made by JD Vance in his speech at the Republican National Convention?

• Vance vowed to fight for working-class Americans who he argued had been "cast aside and forgotten" by the Democrats
• He criticized "career politicians" like President Joe Biden and said Trump was the "last best hope" for Americans
• Vance talked about his humble roots in the Midwest and his journey from a difficult childhood to the US Marines, Yale Law School, and the US Senate
• He blamed the "America's ruling class" for destroying communities like his hometown with trade agreements and foreign wars
• Vance said the US should welcome newcomers "on our terms" and not import foreign labor

2. How did Vance's past views on Trump differ from his current stance?

• Vance was previously an opponent of Trump, once dismissing him as an "idiot" who could become "America's Hitler"
• However, Vance later mended fences with Trump and won the former president's endorsement, being elected to the Senate in 2022

3. What were some of the criticisms of Vance's past statements that Democrats have seized on?

• Democrats have criticized Vance's past statements, including that he doesn't "really care what happens to Ukraine" and his support for a nationwide abortion ban
• Vance has recently moderated his stance on abortion to align with the official Republican platform, which says the issue should be decided by individual states

[02] Vance's Political Newcomer Status

1. How familiar were most Americans with Vance prior to his speech at the convention?

• A CNN poll conducted last month showed that 13% of registered voters said they had a favorable opinion of Vance, 20% an unfavorable one, and nearly two-thirds either had never heard of him or had no opinion
• Some convention-goers on the night said they were still learning about Vance's biography

2. How did experts assess the potential impact of Vance as Trump's running mate?

• Chris Devine, an associate professor of politics, said vice-presidential picks tend to have a quite small effect on the overall race
• However, Devine noted that Vance is an "incredibly talented communicator" despite being a relative political newcomer, and that if voters see him as insufficiently experienced, it could negatively impact perceptions of Trump's judgement