JD Vance Suffers Harsh Blow in His Own Backyard
Published Jul 26, 2024 at 7:00 AM EDT

JD Vance, the Ohio senator and Donald Trump's 2024 running mate, is recording huge net negative favorability ratings in his home region, according to a poll.

A CNN/SSRS poll revealed that 28 percent of people hold a favorable view of Vance in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin, with 44 percent saying they have an unfavorable view of the MAGA senator.

Vance's net favorable rating of -16 points in his home region is larger than his -6 points on a national scale (28 percent favorable compared to 34 percent unfavorable).

CNN's senior political data reporter Harry Enten previously said that Vance was the least-liked non-incumbent vice presidential nominee following a party's convention going back to 1980, as well as the first to register an average net negative favorability rating.

The CNN/SSRS poll is the least worrying sign for the GOP's 2024 ticket, with some Republican figures reportedly concerned Trump may have made a mistake in picking Vance as his 2024 running mate.

As well as suggestions Trump's running mate does not broaden the appeal of the GOP ticket, Vance has also faced mounting criticism for his past views on abortion and "childless cat ladies" ever since he was confirmed as the next potential vice president.

Discussing Vance's poll results on CNN Thursday, Enten said: "He does worse in his home region at minus 16 points than he does in the average of all polls, which is a minus 5-point net favorability rating.

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"So the people who know him best, the region that knows him best, they like him even less than America likes him."

Enten also noted how Vance is "historically unpopular" for a vice presidential nominee coming out of a convention, even when compared to those now considered unpopular Republican running mate choices, Sarah Palin and Dan Quayle.

"The amazing thing was coming out of their conventions, they actually were pretty popular," Enten said. "Quayle with a plus 15-point net favorability rating, Sarah Palin with a plus 26-point net favorability rating.


"Vance at minus 5 points is just off the charts and falling off the chart in the wrong direction."

Vance's office has been contacted for comment via email.

Vance was confirmed as Trump's running mate before President Joe Biden ended his 2024 campaign and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic Party's nomination.

There has recently been speculation that Trump was second guessing choosing Vance as his next potential VP now that they are set to face-off against Harris and a still to be named Democratic running mate.

Trump's communications director Steven Cheung dismissed the rumors, and insisted Trump is "thrilled" with Vance as his running mate.

"Any reporting to the contrary is nothing but ridiculous fake news from either non-existent sources or individuals who have no idea what's going on," Cheung told Newsweek.