According to a report by Newsweek, recent polling data indicates a notable improvement in JD Vance's popularity ratings.
The Ohio Senator and Donald Trump's running mate has seen a significant boost in his favorability numbers, narrowing the gap between those with unfavorable and favorable views of him to just two points.
Morning Consult conducted the latest survey between August 16 and 18, 2024, polling 2,202 registered voters. The results showed that 41 percent of respondents held an unfavorable opinion of Vance, while 39 percent viewed him favorably. This marks a substantial improvement from earlier polls that had shown a more pronounced negative perception of the senator.
The new poll results place Vance in a more competitive position than other prominent political figures. His net favorability score of -2 is now closer to that of his Democratic counterpart, Tim Walz, who holds a score of 5. Walz, the Minnesota governor, enjoys a 39 percent favorability rating and a 36 percent unfavorable rating.
Vice President Kamala Harris maintains a net favorability of 5, with 50 percent of respondents viewing her favorably and 45 percent unfavorably. Former President Donald Trump, meanwhile, stands at a net -5, with 46 percent favorable and 51 percent unfavorable ratings.
These comparisons suggest that Vance's image has improved significantly since his initial rollout as Trump's running mate, bringing him more in line with other high-profile politicians in terms of public perception.
Prior to this recent uptick, Vance had been struggling in the polls since joining the race in July 2024. FiveThirtyEight's polling tracker had shown that Vance was less popular than Sarah Palin, who famously experienced a dramatic decline in popularity during her vice-presidential run alongside John McCain in 2008.
As recently as the previous weekend, FiveThirtyEight reported that no poll had shown Vance with a positive approval rating since before July 19. Various polls had placed his favorability/unfavorability rating between -1 and -17, indicating a challenging start to his campaign as Trump's running mate.
Morning Consult's analysis of the new results stated:
Before she ascended to the top of the ticket, sentiment about Harris had tracked closely with views about Biden. But since securing presumptive status as the Democratic presidential nominee, Harris has become significantly more popular than Biden, Trump and her partisan compatriots in Congress.
This context makes Vance's recent improvement all the more noteworthy, as he appears to be closing the gap with more established political figures.
Vance's campaign has not been without its challenges. Since being announced as Trump's running mate, he has faced scrutiny over past comments, including remarks about women, abortion, and Democratic figures. Clips of these statements have resurfaced, leading to public debate and criticism.
In response to the controversy, Vance has defended his comments, arguing that the media and Democrats have taken his words out of context. He has also aligned himself more closely with Trump's policy positions, particularly on the issue of abortion. Despite previously expressing support for a nationwide ban on abortion, Vance now advocates for allowing states to make their own decisions regarding restrictions on the procedure, mirroring Trump's stance.
JD Vance's favorability ratings have shown a marked improvement according to the latest Morning Consult poll. The narrowing gap between his favorable and unfavorable ratings suggests a positive shift in public perception. This change comes after a period of challenging poll numbers and controversies surrounding past statements. As the campaign progresses, it remains to be seen whether this upward trend in Vance's popularity will continue and how it might impact the overall dynamics of the 2024 presidential race.
