Vance's Presidential Prospects Dim as Poll Lead Shrinks
The political fortunes of JD Vance for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination have suffered a significant blow, with new polling data revealing his once commanding lead has dramatically narrowed. The Vice President's advantage over potential rivals, particularly Donald Trump Jr, has contracted substantially in recent months, signalling a potential shift in the GOP landscape.
The Numbers Tell a Stark Story
According to a McLaughlin & Associates survey tracking potential successors to Donald Trump, Vance's position has weakened considerably. Back in August, the Vice President enjoyed a formidable 20-point lead, commanding 36 percent of voter support compared to Donald Trump Jr's 16 percent.
By October, although Vance remained in front with 38 percent support, Trump Jr had begun closing the gap, rising to 20 percent. The most recent poll, conducted between November 17 and 24 among 439 voters, shows the situation has deteriorated further for Vance.
His lead over Trump Jr has plummeted to just ten points, with Vance at 34 percent and Trump Jr surging to 24 percent.
The Trump Connection: A Double-Edged Sword
Political analyst Mark Shanahan, an associate professor at the University of Sussex, believes Vance's declining popularity is intrinsically linked to his close association with the Trump administration. "The issue for Vance is that he's so closely tied to this administration," Shanahan told Newsweek.
"For the moment, he has to be in lockstep with the president. If he's not, he simply isn't doing the job he has been elected to fulfill. So, while Trump's polling is languishing, Vance suffers."
This analysis comes as President Trump's own approval ratings have collapsed across multiple major polls, with each showing negative ratings for the first time in his presidency. A Fox News poll indicated that 61 percent of respondents believe Trump's administration has damaged the economy, with only 38 percent approving of his economic strategy.
Furthermore, a striking 76 percent expressed negative views about the economy, which Fox analysts noted was "worse than the 67 percent who felt that way in July".
Surveys conducted by YouGov, Gallup, Ipsos, R.M.G. Research, Morning Consult and Quinnipiac all consistently showed the President had a net negative approval rating from American voters.
Despite these figures, the White House has vigorously defended the President's economic record. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told the Daily Mail that Trump has "already delivered on many of the promises he was elected to enact", citing border security, tackling inflation, lowering drug prices, and deporting criminal illegal aliens among his achievements.
