(NewsNation) — Reports that Republicans are having “buyer’s remorse” over vice presidential nominee JD Vance are inaccurate, Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., tells NewsNation’s “On Balance with Leland Vittert.”
Vance, a first-term Ohio senator, was announced as Donald Trump’s running mate July 15. While widely considered a front-runner for the pick due to his fame and loyalty to the former president, the senator’s selection still raised eyebrows given his limited government experience, political similarities to Trump and perceived weakness among swing voters, particularly women.
These worries intensified following Democratic incumbent President Joe Biden’s exit from the race and likely replacement on the ticket by his former running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris. Many believe Vance’s selection was tailored to a campaign against Biden and not Harris.
“Most striking thing I heard from Trump allies yesterday was the second-guessing of JD Vance,” The Atlantic’s Tim Alberta wrote on X. “A selection, they acknowledged, that was borne of cockiness, meant to run up margins with the base in a blowout rather than persuade swing voters in a nail-biter.”
Following a speech at the Republican National Convention, Vance held his first solo campaign event Monday in his home state of Ohio. His performance at that rally strengthened concerns among some in his party he isn’t the best choice to run alongside the former president.
Johnson doesn’t agree.
“I don’t feel he’s a firebrand or bombastic,” Johnson told Vittert. “He’s intelligent. He has integrity. … He’s got a sense of humor. He’s engaging. I think that will appeal to an awful lot of voters.”