### JD Vance Defends Women in Trump Camp, Criticizes Mark Cuban and Kamala Harris

During a rally in Portage, Michigan on November 1, 2024, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) took a strong stand defending the women in Donald Trump's circle against recent comments made by Kamala Harris' surrogate, Mark Cuban. Cuban had stated that Trump does not surround himself with "strong, intelligent women," remarks that drew sharp rebuttals from Republican figures.

Vance particularly emphasized his appreciation for his wife, Usha, noting her intelligence and accomplishments. "I’m maybe especially grateful to have her today, because I don’t know if you saw that Kamala Harris surrogate Mark Cuban said that the Trump campaign doesn't surround itself with smart and accomplished women," Vance remarked. "And I thought to myself, 'well Mark, my wife is way out of your league.'" He also highlighted other prominent women in Trump’s campaign, such as Melania Trump and Susie Wiles, who he believes exemplify strength and intelligence.

Criticism of Cuban's comments also extended to his suggestion that the Harris campaign's rhetoric was substituting substantive discussion due to a lack of a robust record to run on. Vance expressed a desire for the Harris campaign to focus more on their record rather than disparaging opponents. "I wish that Mark Cuban and Kamala Harris and their entire campaign stopped insulting the people they disagreed with and maybe talked about Kamala Harris' record a little bit," Vance said.

The rally, which featured a Donald Trump-branded garbage truck as a backdrop, also addressed a controversial remark made by President Joe Biden. Biden's "garbage" comment, which some interpreted as referring to Trump supporters broadly, had sparked significant debate and led to changes in the official transcript of his speech. Vance used this moment to criticize the recurring disrespect he believes Trump supporters face from Democrats.

A woman in the crowd wore a trash bag labeled with "MAGA" to symbolize resistance to being demeaned. Vance seized this image to argue that disagreement with Harris' policies does not make citizens "garbage" or "bad people."

On the other side, the Harris campaign, bolstered by insights from campaign manager David Plouffe, remained optimistic. Plouffe noted that undecided voters were increasingly leaning towards Harris as the election approached, with focus groups suggesting that Trump's divisive rhetoric was alienating swing voters.

Vance's rally in Michigan was part of his broader campaign efforts, as he headed to North Carolina for another rally on the same evening, continuing his messages of unity among Trump supporters and criticism towards the Harris campaign's tactics.