Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s surprise vice presidential candidate, Senator J.D. Vance, faced backlash within two weeks of his nomination due to controversial past statements. As Trump’s running mate finds himself at the center of controversy, there is growing interest in who Vice President Kamala Harris will choose as Vance’s opponent.
The New York Times reported on the controversy surrounding Vance, noting that his nomination is marred by controversy over past statements and is denting Trump’s image of invincibility. One of the biggest controversies stems from Vance’s appearance on Fox News in 2021, where he referred to Vice President Harris and some Democratic figures as “childless cat ladies” with no direct stake in the nation’s future due to their lack of children, sparking strong backlash among female voters.
Furthermore, Vance has faced criticism for his remarks advocating for the nationwide criminalization of abortion in a podcast interview before the repeal of Roe v. Wade in 2022. In discussing the possibility of abortion being banned in his home state of Ohio, he suggested that George Soros could fly black women to California for abortions if the procedure were prohibited in Ohio, leading to criticism related to abortion rights, anti-Semitism, and racial prejudice.
Criticism of Vance extended to the Republican Party, with some calling his nomination the worst choice that could hinder efforts to expand support among women, minorities, and workers. Even Trump’s close allies reportedly urged him to withdraw Vance’s nomination during a flight to Milwaukee for the party convention. Despite calls for a retraction, Trump strongly stood by his decision, asserting that Vance’s selection was crucial for securing the party’s future after his departure, believing that Vance would become a superstar in the future.
As controversies surrounding Vance mount, attention turns to who Vice President Harris will name as his opponent. Mark Kelly, Senator from Arizona, Josh Shapiro, Governor of Pennsylvania, and Roy Cooper, Governor of North Carolina, are among the likely candidates mentioned in speculation. The selection of Harris’s running mate could influence future election strategies, given Vance’s current predicament.
The race between the Democratic and Republican presidential and vice presidential candidates is intensifying, with conflicting schedules leading to overlap in their campaign events. Harris’s campaign raised $200 million in a week following President Joe Biden’s decision not to seek re-election, with significant contributions from new donors. Approval ratings for Harris have risen to 43%, with over half of the respondents favoring her as the Democratic presidential candidate.
In contrast, Trump’s approval rating has slightly decreased to 36% following the Republican National Convention, with 44% of independents favoring Harris. A majority of respondents, 52%, believe that Harris should be the Democratic presidential candidate, while the survey suggests a slight decline in Trump’s popularity post-convention.