Vance Courts Voters Ahead of 2028 Bid

Vice President JD Vance has stepped up efforts to connect with voters ahead of the midterms. A national poll suggests independents remain unpersuaded.

53% of independents viewed Vance unfavorably; 29% viewed him favorably.
Outreach includes social videos, interviews, a faith-based book tour and retail stops.
Several Trump supporters interviewed offered warmer words for Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Vance's favorability is underwater even in his home state of Ohio.

Why it matters: Vance is taking on a larger campaign role as Trump's approval ratings sit at an all-time low. Midterm results could shape his standing for 2028.

A GOP operative said Vance would own much of a bad midterm loss.
Pollster Robert Alexander said Vance is not moving independents favorably.

The story so far

2 steps · since Oct 12

Oct 12Vance Courts Voters Ahead of 2028 BidYou are here
Oct 17Vance Says There's a Chance He Won't Run in 202819 sourcesLatest

How 4 sources split on this story

Source landscape

Factuality

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Strong LeftLeftLean LeftCenterLean RightRightStrong Right

Political Bias

Coverage by lean% of 4 sources

4 sources · 4 articles · 75% Center coverage

Where they split: Allies say Vance is growing into public politics, while strategist Sarah Longwell says skeptics in focus groups call him disingenuous or weird.

Center3 sources

RealClearPolitics1w+Vance Is Trying To Connect With Voters. Is It Working?The Hill1w+Vance’s sympathetic push exposes his 2028 ambitions The National Desk5dVance on midterms: 'We know that we're swimming upstream'

Left coverage, 1 sources: The left sees Vance working hard to soften his image but asks whether voters, especially independents, are responding.

MSNBC1w+JD Vance is trying to connect with voters. Is it working?

What’s next: Vance will campaign as much as Trump before November, according to a GOP official.

The two avoid locations where polling suggests they could hurt local candidates.
Will Vance's more conciliatory tone on economic pain shift views among independents?
Will interest in Rubio among Trump supporters grow into a 2028 challenge?