Political pollster Frank Luntz declared on CNN Friday that former President Donald Trump’s choice of Ohio Republican Senator JD Vance as his vice presidential running mate could be pivotal in securing a victory in the general election next November. Trump announced his selection for a running mate on the inaugural day of the Republican National Convention. Since then, Trump has emphasized Vance’s commitment to “fight for the worker.”
On “Inside Politics,” Luntz mentioned that Vance targets “paycheck to paycheck voters,” whom he characterized as “the most important segment of the population” for the election, following a question from CNN host Phil Mattingly about whether he believes Vance was a “mistake” for Trump.
“He chose to double down. And J.D. Vance comes from the background that Trump’s focusing on, so he’s credible. And he’s got the language because this is how he grew up,” Luntz stated during his appearance on the program. “To me, the most important segment of the population, the one that makes or breaks, are these paycheck-to-paycheck voters, people who have jobs, they’ve been working, they may not be college graduates, and they’re struggling. And it represents one-fourth of the American electorate.
“Normally, they vote Democrat over Republican by about two to one. Trump brought it to three to two, even closer. That segment, if they break for Harris, she’s the next president. If Trump can keep them, he’s the next president,” Luntz explained.
WATCH:
‘He’s Credible’: Pollster Frank Luntz Dumps Cold Water On Claims JD Vance Was Bad VP Choice For Trump pic.twitter.com/9QixciArhg
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) July 26, 2024
Trump continues to win plaudits for selecting Vance as his running mate, and that includes younger Americans they will both need to win in November. During the 2024 Republican National Convention, former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy praised Generation Z, calling them the generation that will “eventually save America.” The Wall Street Journal has also referred to them as the “toolbelt generation” for their impact on transforming the landscape of work and education in America. After President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the race on Sunday, both parties will vie for the support of young people in these uncertain times.
Some conservative “Zoomers,” as they are called, believe that Trump has advanced in gaining support from the youngest voting bloc by selecting Vance as his running mate. Vance is the first millennial to be added to a presidential ticket, which is significant as concerns about age are prominent in the political sphere. “If we look at JD Vance specifically as VP, one of their [Gen Z’s] biggest concerns is the age” of then-candidate Biden and Trump, podcast host and Gen Z influencer Christian Hodges told Fox News. “They see JD Vance as an insurance policy for Trump in case there is another assassination attempt, and it’s successful, unfortunately.”
Hodges, the author of “America, Don’t Give Up: Your Right to Freedom of Speech,” has before talked about ongoing worries among young voters about the candidates’ ages, particularly after then-candidate Biden’s debate last month. The political activist and conservative commentator mentions that Zoomers, or individuals from Generation Z, are in search of fresh leadership, and he views Vance as a positive move forward. “If we also look at JD Vance and his background, he supports everything that Gen Z, especially men, are going towards,” he said.
Surveys have indicated that Trump has a historic opportunity to secure the largest portion of the 18-29 age demographic for any Republican in decades. “If you look at the top careers that Gen Z men are pushing for, they’re going into careers like blue-collar jobs. Blue-collar is trendy again, and they’re also going into finance fields. A lot of Gen Z is entrepreneurial because that’s also trendy again today, and they’re also going into the tech field in Silicon Valley,” Hodges said.
Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.