New Hampshire Republicans wasted no time praising former President Donald Trump’s pick of U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) as his running mate.
“Vance’s background is inspiring,” said state GOP chair Chris Ager. “Honored to support the Trump-Vance ticket!”
But political observers around the Granite State generally shrugged off Vance’s nomination as irrelevant to Trump’s chances of pulling off an upset in the race for New Hampshire’s four Electoral College votes.
“[Vance] is not on the ticket to convince socially moderate Bedford women who might have voted for Gov. Chris Sununu multiple times [to vote Trump]” said University of New Hampshire political science professor Dante Scala.
Trump announced his pick via Truth Social Monday afternoon, soon after the Republican National Convention kicked off.
“After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the Great State of Ohio,” Trump wrote.
“J.D. honorably served our Country in the Marine Corps, graduated from Ohio State University in two years, Summa Cum Laude, and is a Yale Law School Graduate, where he was Editor of The Yale Law Journal, and President of the Yale Law Veterans Association. J.D.’s book, ‘Hillbilly Elegy,’ became a Major Best Seller and Movie, as it championed the hardworking men and women of our Country.”
Political professionals were quick to point out Vance gives Trump one obvious benefit in his battle with Biden: It highlights the age issue. Vance turns 40 on Aug. 2, which means Biden had already been a senator for 11 years when the Republican was born.
“Strong choice,” Corey Lewandowski told NHJournal. “New Hampshire voters will love him.” Lewandowski, Trump’s 2016 campaign manager who is advising this year’s delegate and convention process, also told National Review that Vance will “help the ticket. I love the pick.”
But a longtime New Hampshire GOP campaign professional told NHJournal on background that Trump missed an opportunity. “What state is more in play today because of J.D.? What new voters? With a [Virginia Gov. Glenn] Youngkin or even a [former U.N. Ambassador Nikki] Haley, the ticket would get a second look from some voters in the suburbs.”
But Granite State GOP candidates are praising Vance, in particular for his military service. Vance, who joined the Marine Corps after graduating from high school, is the only one of the four names on both major party tickets who served in the military.
“J.D. Vance, who rose from humble beginnings much like myself, has shown exceptional dedication to our nation as a Marine and as a U.S. senator,” said GOP gubernatorial candidate Chuck Morse. “It will be an honor to work alongside him this fall to advocate for hardworking American families.”
Kelly Ayotte, who’s also seeking the GOP nomination for governor, said, “Coming from a military family, I appreciate that President Trump picked a veteran in J.D. Vance, who served our country in the Marine Corps. Sen. Vance is well qualified to serve as vice president, and this is a strong ticket to defeat Joe Biden in November.”
Democrats, on the other hand, immediately labeled Vance a hardline supporter of the “extremist MAGA agenda.”
In a press call an hour after the Vance announcement, the Biden campaign returned to its theme that Trump and his vice presidential pick are a danger to America, calling it “the most extreme and out-of-touch ticket in American history.” The brief press event was peppered with frequent references to “Project 2025,” a plan from a right-wing D.C. think tank that Trump has disavowed.
“Donald Trump picked J.D. Vance as his running mate because Vance will do what Mike Pence wouldn’t on January 6: bend over backwards to enable Trump and his extreme MAGA agenda, even if it means breaking the law and no matter the harm to the American people,” said Biden’s campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon.
“The choice is to save our democracy [and] protect our rights and freedoms” by voting against Trump, Dillon added.
The vast majority of the messaging on the call was focused on abortion. Two of the four speakers were with pro-abortion organizations, a glimpse of the Democrats’ coming campaign strategy.
Asked about the possibility of a vice presidential debate, a Biden campaign spokesman said Vice President Kamala Harris had already accepted an invitation from CBS News. And the Trump campaign has agreed to debate hosted by Fox News. So it appears at least one face off is likely.
Progressive U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) says Harris is ready.
“The VP will take it to J.D. Vance. I’ve known her for nearly 15 years, while she’s been in every kind of fight on behalf of working families, and she is strong. She knows what she’s talking about and she doesn’t give an inch.”
Not everyone agrees.
“He’ll run rings around Kamala Harris in any debate,” said veteran journalist Brit Hume on Fox News.
And at least one GOP strategist says Vance’s pick will have “no impact,” but it doesn’t matter.
“Trump could have picked almost anyone and it wouldn’t matter,” said Pat Griffin. “This election was all about Biden’s weakness. It’s still about that, but now more than ever it’s also about Trump’s strength.
“The Democrats are lost and have no idea where to go or what to do. Trump now has the advantage of super-human strength: He’s the Orange Avenger! If he can reach out in his convention speech and try to invite undecided and independent voters to join him, he seals the deal.”
