Ah, the vice-presidential pick—a delicate dance between appealing to the base and roping in those elusive swing voters. The recent ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll suggests that America is doing what it does best—gravitating toward the middle and wondering if either VP candidate can actually sway their vote.
First, let’s talk about Tim Walz. With a 39% favorability rating, the Minnesota Governor is, in political terms, about as controversial as a warm cup of milk. Not exactly setting the world on fire, but hey, who wants a VP that excites too much? His detractors (30%) might be slightly louder, but they aren’t in the majority. Crucially, 52% approve of Kamala Harris’ decision to tap Walz as her running mate, showing that she’s playing it safe, perhaps too safe, but safe nonetheless.
Then there’s JD Vance, a man who’s apparently found that the quickest route to political notoriety is to be disliked. With 42% holding an unfavorable view of him compared to a meager 32% who think he’s the bee’s knees, Vance is about as popular as a cold bowl of oatmeal. The fact that 50% of respondents disapprove of Donald Trump’s decision to make Vance his VP suggests that this pick may not be the strategic masterstroke Trump hoped it would be.
But let’s not forget the sizable chunk of Americans who remain blissfully unaware or simply disinterested in either man—31% for Walz and 26% for Vance. This may speak more to the overall apathy toward the vice presidency than to the candidates themselves.
In their native Midwest, Walz outshines Vance by a comfortable 15 percentage points, with 55% approving of Walz's selection versus just 40% for Vance. Yet, for a region that's been the political bellwether for decades, these numbers suggest that the Midwestern voter is more than willing to vote with a shrug.
Of course, Republicans overwhelmingly back Vance, with 82% of GOP faithful giving him the thumbs-up. Yet, the fact that his approval drops to 42% among independents should worry Trump. These swing voters are crucial in a general election, and they seem to be leaning slightly toward Walz, who enjoys a 49% approval rating among them.
In short, if the VP selection was supposed to inject some dynamism into this race, someone forgot to tell the candidates. Walz is the safe, steady pick—the human equivalent of comfort food—while Vance is, well, the guy who makes you wonder if you really want to go on this political rollercoaster. But in this election, where every percentage point counts, it might just be enough to tip the scales.
Now, if only someone could convince the American public to care.
Senate Ballot Box Scores
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