As former President Donald Trump gears up to announce his vice-presidential pick for the upcoming presidential race, the atmosphere is thick with anticipation and speculation. Despite being a front-runner for the 2024 election, details about his running mate remain a closely guarded secret. Longtime allies and senior advisers are reportedly out of the loop, hinting that Trump might still be weighing his options. This strategic ambiguity fuels further speculation and builds suspense around his impending announcement, keeping both the media and the public keenly focused on his next move.
JD Vance, the Ohio Senator known for his conservative stance and as the author of “Hillbilly Elegy,” has seen a sudden and dramatic rise in his odds of becoming Trump’s vice-presidential pick. His chances have skyrocketed by nearly 300%, positioning him as the frontrunner with a 31% probability of being selected, according to recent betting markets. This surge places Vance ahead of other potential candidates.
Ohio Senator JD Vance, known for his conservative views and as the author of “Hillbilly Elegy,” has experienced a significant boost in speculation about becoming Donald Trump’s vice-presidential running mate. Recent movements in betting markets indicate that Vance’s odds have surged by nearly 300%, positioning him as the current frontrunner with a 31% chance of being selected. This dramatic increase places him ahead of other potential candidates in the race for the vice-presidential nomination.
JD Vance’s odds to be Trump’s VP just shot up nearly 300%
He’s now the favorite with a 31% chance. pic.twitter.com/RqIyXnanVY
— Polymarket (@Polymarket) July 8, 2024
During an interview with NBC News on Sunday, Vance clarified that he has not been approached by Trump to join his campaign as the vice presidential candidate. Despite being considered a top contender for Trump’s vice presidential slot, Vance confirmed, “I have not gotten the call,” and promised to notify the press if he does receive such an invitation.
Vance turned the discussion around on “Meet The Press” host Kristen Welker on Sunday after she inquired if the Ohio senator would endorse the “weaponization of the Department of Justice” should former President Donald Trump win re-election.
“The DOJ told Congress this week it reviewed all communication since Biden took office and found no contact between federal prosecutors and those involved with that case in New York,” Welker said. She referenced Vance’s past statements criticizing politically motivated prosecutions of former President Donald Trump. She then claimed there is “no evidence” of a weaponized DOJ under President Joe Biden. “If it’s not okay for Joe Biden to weaponize the Justice Department, as you say, which there’s no evidence of that, why is it okay for Donald Trump to do that?” Welker asked.
Without hesitation, Vance brought up the questionable hiring of Matthew Colangelo, who stepped down from a senior position at the Biden Department of Justice to take on a lower-level prosecutor role in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office.
“Well, Kristen, first of all, you said that it happens all the time, that the number three person in the Department of Justice jumped ship to join a local prosecutor’s office to go after the president’s political opponent. I don’t think that’s ever happened in the history of American democracy, and I don’t think that we should legitimize it,” the freshman Ohio senator said. “Now, if Donald Trump’s attorney general had his number two or his number three jump ship to a local prosecutor’s office in Ohio or Wisconsin, and that person then went after Donald Trump’s political opposition, that’s a different conversation. All he’s suggesting is that we should investigate credible arguments of wrongdoing.” He added: “That’s all Donald Trump is saying. That is not a threat to democracy. That’s merely reinforcing our system of law and government.”
Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.