There is a lot of talk right about now about the frontrunners in the Donald Trump VP stakes.
There is apparently one of those candidates that Kamala Harris fears most, or at least her camp does.
Talking Points…
- Trump VP frontrunners
- Kamala's biggest fear
- Analysis
At one point, this list was a mile long, but I think it is now narrowed down to just a handful of people. My list may not mesh with others, but I believe I have this pretty much dialed in now. So, let's get to it.
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) appears to have separated herself from the females in the pack. This was not due to anything she did but rather some disasters that have befallen the other women who were in consideration. Nikki Haley more or less destroyed her chances by going toe-to-toe with Trump after DeSantis dropped out. Governor Kristi Noem imploded when she released her book about killing a dog.
Senator JD Vance (R-OH) has been among the favorites from the outset, but some challenges exist. Vance was previously very critical of Trump, but that all changed when he ran for the Senate and needed Trump's support. Vance has a lot going for him, but the one thing against him could outweigh all of that: the comments he made about Trump during the 2016 campaign. There is no way Trump wants to see that turned into a campaign ad by Democrats.
Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) is my frontrunner and would seem to be the no-brainer decision for Trump. Biden is bleeding minority voters right now, and Scott can help draw them in. And if Democrats start to attack him, as we know they will do, it will show the hypocrisy of the party. Just for campaigning for Trump, liberal mouthpieces are calling him an Uncle Tom and a prop, so what do you think they will start to say if he is Trump's VP on the ticket? This could truly wake up minorities in this country as to how the Democrat Party really sees them.
Ashley Etienne, who served as Harris' communications director in 2021, is worried about one of those names in the final three. Shockingly, it was not Senator Tim Scott, who I thought would be the biggest concern. Etienne believes that Senator Vance would present the biggest challenge, and her reasoning is hard to fault.
During a recent interview with CNN, Etienne explained why, stating:
"I think JD Vance would pose the greatest threat [to] Kamala Harris, in some respects. I mean, he's an incredible debater.
"I think he has this quality that makes him seem palpable to that one to two percent that actually might vote or that is undecided, that will actually pay attention to the debates because most people don't pay attention to the debates."
Shen went on to describe Vance as "super smart" and "quick-witted," which, if you have seen Kamala during a debate or a live speech, will be a problem. Harris seems only capable of reading a teleprompter, then has that ridiculous cackle she unleashes when she is nervous or feels backed into a corner. Etienne continued:
"I think he's just got a quality about him where he's super smart and sharp and quick-witted. I just think it's going to be a challenge to see the two of them face-to-face. I mean, maybe it's just me, but I think he's going to be the greatest threat."
I want to be clear here… I have zero issues with Vance, but I don't think he is the right fit for this particular race based on what Trump needs to beat Biden. I genuinely believe we have to take advantage of Biden bleeding minority voters and destroy the stereotype that the Republican Party is nothing but the party of rich white men. Scott accomplishes all of that and opens the door to a more diverse party that will allow minority conservatives to finally come out of the shadows. If we are going to survive beyond this election, it just seems like a no-brainer for me.
Nothing is stopping Trump from putting Vance in a high-profile cabinet position to allow him to continue his upward trend, but do we really want to put that Senate seat back up for grabs when we now have it locked down with a legitimate chance for the GOP to take back the Senate in this election? For me, it's about strategy, so I stand behind Trump picking Scott as his VP and leaving Vance right where he is, at least for now.
