In the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, remarks made by Donald Trump questioning Kamala Harris' Black identity and a series of controversial comments by his running mate JD Vance have sparked growing unease among Republicans. The Trump campaign is now attempting to shift the focus away from Vance's remarks about childless women by emphasizing issues like the border crisis that resonate with the party's base.

While some Republican allies outside of the Trump campaign are downplaying the recent statements made by their 2024 nominee about his Democratic rival and her race, others within the party are genuinely concerned about the potential ramifications. There are fears that Trump's remarks could lead to a deterioration of soft centrist support, which played a significant role in the party's 2020 campaign.

Vermont GOP Chairman, Paul Dame, expressed his concerns, stating that if the next three months are marked by more examples like this, Trump may witness a deterioration of support. The former president's recent comments about Harris are seen by some as a regression from the more "cleaned-up" campaign they witnessed leading up to the Republican National Convention.

One of the key figures in this growing unease is JD Vance, whose controversial comments have drawn scrutiny. Vance's 2021 interview resurfaced, revealing remarks about "childless cat ladies" running the country and suggesting that people with children should have more votes. These comments have led to a backlash, prompting the Trump campaign to defend Vance's stance and dismiss the significance of the Vice Presidential nominee.

Donald Trump, during a tense appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists' convention in Chicago, attempted to downplay concerns about Vance by insisting that his running mate is not against childless people. Trump also asserted that historically, the choice of a vice president makes no difference as voters are ultimately casting their ballots for the president.

However, many Republicans argue that the focus should be on Harris' record and not her racial identity. Trump's remarks about Harris divert attention from important policy debates such as the border crisis and inflation, which are seen as missed opportunities for the GOP to gain ground against the Biden-Harris administration.

Leading Republicans in Washington responded to Trump's remarks by expressing their desire to focus on Harris' policies and their failure rather than her racial identity. Some even downplayed Trump's comments as mere attempts to incite or distract from pertinent issues.

While Trump may have sought to recapture the spotlight with his inflammatory comments, there is a risk that it could backfire. The remarks remind voters of the reasons why he lost the 2020 presidency, which poses a challenge for his 2024 campaign. GOP consultant Alex Conant emphasized that these remarks are bringing attention back to the aspects that voters did not appreciate in the previous election.

Despite the controversy surrounding Vance's comments, Trump's campaign insists that he is the perfect choice to help reclaim the White House. Allies of Vance argue that he is being unfairly labeled by the left and mainstream media and believe that everyday Americans will resonate with his perspective.

Critics argue that Vance's recent stumbles are reminiscent of other controversial Vice Presidential picks in the past, such as Sarah Palin and Dan Quayle. Nevertheless, Republicans hope that a reset for their VP pick will help turn things around as polls show the race tightening.

In conclusion, Donald Trump's remarks about Kamala Harris' Black identity and JD Vance's controversial comments are causing growing unease among Republicans. The Trump campaign is attempting to shift the focus towards issues that resonate with the party's base, but concerns remain about the potential impact on centrist support. As the election approaches, Republicans are hoping for a turnaround and a renewed focus on policy debates to sway voters their way.