This was the first week of the new 2024 presidential election, with a big kickoff for the Democrats’ team of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz filled with huge rallies and surging polls. The Trump team had an answer for all that: showboating Sen. JD Vance, Donald Trump’s weird running mate. It was a bad answer.
The Trump strategy to detract attention from Harris was for Vance to shadow her this week, showing up wherever Harris and Walz went and having his own events—not rallies, because there’s no way he could draw a crowd, but “press appearances.” He was supposed to draw attention away from Harris and Walz with attacks. But he just came across as a weird stalker—even to Republicans.
It did nothing to put a dent in Harris’ campaign. Her approval rating continues to surge, as does her polling head-to-head against Trump. Her rallies are huge, much to Trump’s dismay, and her fundraising has been massive. Harris’ headlines reflect all that:
Just for comparison:
Meanwhile, barring an appearance in Montana on Friday, Trump plans to stay off the campaign trail until at least after the Democratic National Convention ends on Aug. 22. No word yet on what’s planned for Vance. They might have decided to keep his appearances more private, since this week was pretty much a disaster for him.
His “awkward” and “bizarre” stunt on the airport tarmac in Wisconsin stands out as the most memorable part of his week on the stump. He was all bluster, telling reporters, “I just wanted to check out my future plane,” and claiming that he “wanted to go say hello to the vice president and ask her why does she refuse to answer questions.”
That too was a flop. All Vance got out of it was more bad press—“‘Creepy!’ CNN Morning Crew Torches Trump Pick Vance Over ‘Bizarre’ Kamala Harris Plane Stunt’”—and a roasting on social media. Like getting dragged by Liz Cheney.
“Weird” is now baked in when it comes to Vance, and it’s showing. He’s even more unpopular now than just after he was picked, when he entered the race as “the first guy immediately following a convention—a VP pick—who actually had a net negative favorable rating, that is underwater,” according to CNN data analyst Harry Enten.
RELATED STORIES:
Trump seethes over how 'unfair' it is that he has to run against Harris
Vance gives women the ick—and this won't help
Tim Walz’s takedown of JD Vance is sofa king good
Let's keep the creepy, weird guys out of the White House! Donate now to help Kamala Harris win.
The Trump strategy to detract attention from Harris was for Vance to shadow her this week, showing up wherever Harris and Walz went and having his own events—not rallies, because there’s no way he could draw a crowd, but “press appearances.” He was supposed to draw attention away from Harris and Walz with attacks. But he just came across as a weird stalker—even to Republicans.
It did nothing to put a dent in Harris’ campaign. Her approval rating continues to surge, as does her polling head-to-head against Trump. Her rallies are huge, much to Trump’s dismay, and her fundraising has been massive. Harris’ headlines reflect all that:
Poll: Harris jumps to a small national lead over Trump
Harris Used to Worry About Laughing. Now Joy Is Fueling Her Campaign.
Oldest Latino civil rights group announces its first presidential endorsement for Harris-Walz
'Never been something like this': Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to rally in Arizona
Just for comparison:
‘Weird’ doesn’t begin to capture the Trump-Vance campaign
Vance and other Trump allies amplify a false claim about Harris’ racial identity
Trump holds meandering news conference, where he agrees to debate Harris
Trump lashes out about Harris crowd size, attacks her intelligence at press conference
Meanwhile, barring an appearance in Montana on Friday, Trump plans to stay off the campaign trail until at least after the Democratic National Convention ends on Aug. 22. No word yet on what’s planned for Vance. They might have decided to keep his appearances more private, since this week was pretty much a disaster for him.
His “awkward” and “bizarre” stunt on the airport tarmac in Wisconsin stands out as the most memorable part of his week on the stump. He was all bluster, telling reporters, “I just wanted to check out my future plane,” and claiming that he “wanted to go say hello to the vice president and ask her why does she refuse to answer questions.”
That too was a flop. All Vance got out of it was more bad press—“‘Creepy!’ CNN Morning Crew Torches Trump Pick Vance Over ‘Bizarre’ Kamala Harris Plane Stunt’”—and a roasting on social media. Like getting dragged by Liz Cheney.
“Weird” is now baked in when it comes to Vance, and it’s showing. He’s even more unpopular now than just after he was picked, when he entered the race as “the first guy immediately following a convention—a VP pick—who actually had a net negative favorable rating, that is underwater,” according to CNN data analyst Harry Enten.
RELATED STORIES:
Trump seethes over how 'unfair' it is that he has to run against Harris
Vance gives women the ick—and this won't help
Tim Walz’s takedown of JD Vance is sofa king good
Let's keep the creepy, weird guys out of the White House! Donate now to help Kamala Harris win.