Sen. J.D. Vance is a non-entity in his own home state where voters and politicians say former President Donald Trump's running mate leaves them either apathetic or outraged, according to a new report.
Vance (R-OH) seldom appears in Republican campaign ads in several of Ohio's battleground congressional districts — and few politicians drop his name despite local roots and proximity to Trump, Politico reported Tuesday.
"Vance is conspicuously absent from local billboards that prominently feature Trump," Politico reported. "He’s not been a part of Republican advertising on broadcast, either...despite a plethora of outside spending."
Politico focused much of its reporting on the race between Democrat Rep. Marcy Kaptur, 78, and Republican Derek Merrin, who has barely referenced Vance even though recent polls show him trailing by 10 points, according to the report.
Kaptur, on the other hand, has embraced 2023 video that shows Vance grabbing her fist, trying to fist bump her then admitting it's his first time at the United Auto Workers picket line, Politico reported.
"What does he know about the auto industry and the trucking industry?” Kaptur asked Politico. "He has high ambitions, and so he’s been successful in getting elected in Ohio, but he hasn’t had time, really to have any results.”
Merrin declined an interview but told Politico, "I’m proud to support the Trump/Vance ticket because their economic policies are going to put the American people first.”
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"It’s not just in this district that Vance is a non-issue," the news outlet reported. "He hasn’t popped up as a surrogate for Moreno in the Senate race, nor is he a presence in the state’s other competitive congressional race in Northeast Ohio."
Ohio resident Stephanie Garcia, 55, said she was not impressed with the personas presented by Trump and Vance, both of whom spread false claims that Haitian immigrants in Ohio were eating people's pets.
“I don’t think [Trump and Vance] have very good character," Garcia told Politico. "The things they say, like just last night on the debate. ... A lot of the things [Vance] was saying, just like Trump, were outrageous and inflammatory."
Politico argued that Vance's non-appearance in local races and rank-and-file Republicans concerns he does little to boost Trump raise an important question: "Where does he help the party?"
