The director of a Republican group that has for years campaigned against former President Donald Trump on Sunday drew a damning distinction between Trump’s 2024 running mate JD Vance and two of the Democrats who are being hotly tipped to become Kamala Harris’ vice presidential candidate.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro “both seem pretty comfortable in their own skin and they feel authentic,” Republican Voters Against Trump’s Sarah Longwell told MSNBC’s Jen Psaki.
“The thing that is killing JD Vance is that voters, and I have listened to tons of swing voters since he was picked, and they don’t like him at all, they think he seems like a phony,” she continued.
Voters only know that Vance “flip-flopped on Trump,” said Longwell.
Vance was a fierce critic of Trump before performing his stunning 180. The launch of his veep campaign has been beset with problems, however, with the resurfacing of old comments about “childless cat ladies” among other quotes. It’s led to speculation that Trump could replace him on the ticket.
“They also get … it’s like vibes, right? Voters can smell inauthenticity and that’s what JD Vance reeks of to them,” Longwell added.
The ability of Shapiro and Walz “to sort of talk to people, to articulate their positions effectively, to seem comfortable in their own skin, to look like they mean what they’re saying, that is the kind of thing you just can’t put a value on,” Longwell explained.