Article:

Since being announced as former President Donald Trump's running mate, Sen. JD Vance, a Republican from Ohio, has been met with mixed reviews, according to recent polling data. These surveys, conducted after the Republican National Convention, reveal that Vance still has a long way to go in terms of gaining recognition and favorability among voters nationwide.

CNN polling numbers indicate that Vance is the least liked non-incumbent vice presidential nominee after a party's convention since 1980. In fact, he holds a net negative favorable rating of -6. Only 58% of Republican respondents in a YouGov poll believed that Vance helped Trump's chances of winning the election, compared to 16% of Democrats. On the other hand, 27% of respondents felt that Vance made no difference. Interestingly, only 3% of Republicans believed he hurt Trump's chances, in contrast to 20% of Democrats.

Vance's selection as Trump's running mate came as a surprise to many. Trump, in a post on his newly launched social media platform, Truth Social, expressed his belief that Vance was "the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States." This announcement followed reports that Trump had been considering other potential candidates such as Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina.

At 39 years old, Vance is relatively new to politics. He gained national recognition in 2016 with the publication of his memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy." Prior to his successful senatorial run in 2022, with Trump's endorsement, Vance had criticized Trump and even stated that he didn't vote for him in the 2016 election. However, in 2021, Vance expressed regret for his previous critical statements, acknowledging that he was "wrong about" Trump.

Since entering the Senate, Vance has aligned himself closely with Trump's agenda. He has been a vocal advocate for measures combating election fraud, supporting anti-abortion legislation, and opposing continued funding for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.

As the election season progresses, it remains to be seen whether Vance can improve his favorability ratings and win over undecided voters. With the 2022 midterm elections approaching, the impact of his nomination as Trump's running mate will undoubtedly shape the outcome for Republicans in Ohio and beyond.