In mere hours this weekend, President Joe Biden went from having to talk Democrats into not abandoning him to having to explain his administration's failure to protect his political opponent from a would-be assassin.
But now the contrast between Democrats in "disarray" and a Republican Party "really united" could not be more stark and driving more "momentum" for the Trump-Vance ticket, J.D. Vance told Newsmax in a live on-set interview Night 2 of the GOP convention in Milwaukee on Tuesday.
"President [Donald] Trump's, I think, roundhouse kick in the first debate is part of the reason why you have Democrats in total disarray right now," Vance said, referring to the June 27 debate between Biden and the former president. "It is really the contrast between Republicans and Democrats.
"Democrats are actively trying to throw their nominee under the bus. This party out here is really united behind President Trump. It's a really good feeling.
"And I think that that momentum is something you can almost reach out and touch. It's so, so powerful. It's so cool."
The GOP unity was on full display at the convention Tuesday night, as GOP primary vitriol gave way to full-throated support for Trump as the nominee.
Former South Carolina GOP Gov. Nikki Haley not only delivered her delegates for Trump on Monday in the nominating vote, but she delivered her full endorsement for Trump in her speech. She spoke to the hearts, minds, and potential votes of former Trump critics, noting how you can "disgree at times" with Trump, but still vote for him against Democrat President Joe Biden.
Also, Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis came out firing thereafter noting how the Republican Party must send Biden "back to his basement" and Trump "back to the White House."
But those speeches came after a one-time Trump critic himself, Vance – saying in 2015 the billionaire is at times difficult to "stomach" – is now Trump's leading supporter as his vice presidential running, long coming to the conclusion Trump is the best president for America.
Trump himself has hailed Vance as one that proves he can turn unconvinced minds around as a presidential candidate.
That is where Vance comes in with the key battleground states that have pockets of tepid support for Trump.
Vance noted having the rally Saturday rally in Butler, Pennsylvania; nominating an Ohio running mate; and holding the GOP convention in the key battleground state of Wisconsin show just how important the Rust Belt is for Trump to break the Democrats' proverbial "blue wall" — despite Democrats' tepid support for their 81-year-old candidate.
"Absolutely, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin — obviously, we're here in Milwaukee — are a major, major focus of President Trump's campaign," Vance told Schmitt and Van Susteren. "And, look, it's very simple: Why does Joe Biden want to buy oil from Iran and from [Russian President] Vladimir Putin instead of from Pennsylvania energy workers?
"Why does he want to further weaken the American manufacturing economy that allows us to project power overseas? Why does he constantly pursue the interests of foreign despots over the interests of the American citizen and the American worker?
"That is a case that I think works all over the country. I really think it's an argument that works in Pennsylvania and Michigan, because they have felt the neglect of the consensus in Washington that leaves American workers behind.
"President Trump's going to change that."
Tesla, SpaceX, and X owner Elon Musk sees that, too, Vance added.
"Elon and I know each other a little bit, but Elon is actually a great example of an American entrepreneur who's built a company, but also a company that's employed a lot of good American workers," Vance said, when asked if Musk was a voice pushing for him to be the running mate. "If you think about, you know, Elon Musk is in some ways a throwback to an older generation of American entrepreneur. He builds real things, he builds cars, he builds rockets.
"And that's, I think, the kind of economy that President Trump wants to create."
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