by MATTHEW BOYLE
While nothing is final until it is final in former President Donald Trump’s world, there are some signs emerging that freshman Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) might end up being Trump’s running mate — and if he is, that would be a historic moment both for veterans and young voters.
Vance, at 39 years old, served in the Marines in the Iraq War and would be the first-ever Marine combat veteran on a presidential ticket of a major party. Given Democrat President Joe Biden’s insistence upon continually using the “suckers and losers” hoax against Trump — Biden did it in the debate and has continued to do it since then multiple times — selecting someone who actually served and saw combat as a Marine could annihilate that vicious lie easily. What is more, given that Vance would be the first millennial on a presidential ticket if he were to be picked, Trump allies view such a pick as doubling down on and solidifying significant gains Trump is making with young voters, especially while Democrats are divided on what to do about their ticket after Biden’s disastrous debate performance.
“He would be both the first U.S. Marine and the first millennial on a presidential ticket in American history,” a Trump loyalist told Breitbart News on Friday. “His selection would truly be historic.”
There are some signs that Trump may be leaning toward Vance. First and foremost, prediction markets have swung big time Vance’s way in the last couple of days:
.@Polymarket – Republican Vice Presidential Odds (shift since July 7)
• J.D. Vance: 41% (+18)
• Doug Burgum: 24% (-11)
• Marco Rubio: 9% (-1)
• Glenn Youngkin: 8% (-2)
• Ben Carson: 6% (-7)
• Tim Scott: 6% (+1)Who do YOU think will be Trump's VP?https://t.co/A5Md8k8sVd… https://t.co/wl9tlVkLv8 pic.twitter.com/mi22nCvrzE
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) July 11, 2024
Secondly, Republican National Convention programming tentatively has Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., slated to speak right before whoever Trump picks as his running mate on Wednesday evening. It is on Wednesday evening in primetime next week in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at the Convention that the vice presidential candidate will formally accept the nomination and address the nation. Trump Jr., a close ally of Vance, has made no secrets about his support for the young Ohio senator being his father’s running mate choice. So, the decision by Convention programmers to have Trump Jr. set to basically introduce the vice presidential pick is one of the many tea leaves emerging that Vance might be the guy:
Scoop: Don Jr. is scheduled to speak right before the VP pick on Wednesday at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Axios has learned.
It's the latest sign that Trump has zeroed in on J.D. Vance, who Don Jr. has supported for VP. https://t.co/GFnxdw8CVH
— Sophia Cai (@SophiaCai99) July 11, 2024
Then, in addition to that, also tentatively scheduled to speak on Wednesday in primetime at the Convention is the mayor of East Palestine, Ohio, Trent Conaway. Vance famously helped Trump organize his visit very early in the GOP presidential primary to East Palestine in the aftermath of the train derailment, and Trump beat Biden and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg there. That moment has emerged as a critical example of Biden’s failures as president and how his government was so slow to respond to a crisis affecting the “forgotten man and woman” in America’s rust belt. So, Conaway’s tentative speaking slot on Wednesday at the Convention would be a tripling down by team Trump — and possibly running mate Vance — on that successful messaging and moment:
News: Trent Conaway, the mayor of East Palestine, Ohio, is tentatively scheduled to speak the 3rd night of the RNC, the same night as the VP and Don Jr.
Trump advisers view Trump’s Feb. ‘23 trip to East Palestine as a turning point in his campaign https://t.co/Q81wZYozhy
— Alex Isenstadt (@politicoalex) July 11, 2024
“This race will be won or lost in the rust belt, and Vance is by far the best messenger to the blue-collar voters Trump needs to win in those states,” the Trump loyalist told Breitbart News. “His unique and heroic life story of coming from poverty and a broken home, with a mother who struggled with drug addiction to becoming a Marine, a Yale Law graduate, a best-selling author, successful businessman, and a U.S. Senator makes him the biggest threat to Democrats electorally of any of the VP contenders. They’re terrified of running against someone who can appeal to working-class and poverty-stricken voters the way he can.”
A second Trump loyalist familiar with the various possible vice presidential candidates told Breitbart News that it is particularly revealing that Trump’s adversaries are attacking Vance and promoting the other possible selections in recent weeks.
“[Vance is] the most ideologically aligned of any of the contenders and the only one of the three options who would truly carry on the America First movement into the future and not let it be subverted by Karl Rove and the establishment Bush wing of the party,” the second Trump loyalist told Breitbart News. “That’s why you see Karl Rove, Rupert Murdoch, Matt Drudge, and the rest of the anti-Trump establishment desperately smearing him and promoting either Burgum or Rubio.”
This second source also emphasized Vance’s strong fundraising work for Trump and his ties in Silicon Valley. “He is also someone at 39 years old who made himself a massive success in the business world at a young age,” the second Trump loyalist said. “The relationships he built in Silicon Valley and in the crypto space during his business career are a big reason why he has become such a fundraising juggernaut for Trump over the past year.”
A third person familiar with the process said that Vance’s regular appearances on television defending Trump and his agenda — Vance routinely runs circles around even the most aggressive interviewers — have played a massive role in getting him to this point in the selection process. His debate performances, too, in Ohio — both in the GOP primary in 2022 and in the general election — are also, per this source, strong selling points.
I really like Carson, but I just don’t think he can be enough of a tough bastard to face off with Democrats. It is sad that a guy or gal can’t be nice, but that is how it is.
It is an excellent choice for carrying the the platform forward in 2028. Look for JD to be actively involved in the administration. He will redefine the role of VP going forward. There will not be a repeat of the opposition President Trump had during his first term. JD is well like nationally and will also help to solidify the Republican down ticket vote.
Neither youngkin or Carson.
JD should be the pick.
And, LO! and behold, it is.
Utah announced its delegates as for Donald J Trump and for VP JDVance.
Did I miss the official announcement?
See my comment above
Awesome. As a fellow Ohioan, I am proud for President Trump to have selected JD. He is a fighter just like DJT. Godspeed Trump/Vance 2024
I had a hunch he would get the nod after the way he came out swinging at Biden after the assassination attempt. That attempt is probably what led to PT announcing his pick sooner rather than later given there is no longer any doubt they want him dead.
Cynical Publius:
LINK
He is also another example of someone not accepting their current situation as fate but lifting themselves up and out of poverty. He did it by serving in the Marines and then using his benefits to get an education promote himself. Just the kind of stuff the Democrats hate.
You know it is the right oick when democrats are mad and the republican establishment is also upset.
Just look at Trump/Vance stacked up against Biden/Harris. It’s not even a fair fight.