Sen. JD Vance is facing an uphill battle in the race for favorability ratings as Election Day approaches, according to a recent poll from USA Today and Suffolk University. The survey, conducted after the Democratic National Convention, revealed that Vance is trailing behind Gov. Tim Walz, with 36% of likely voters having a favorable view of Vance compared to 48% for Walz.
Even among independents, Vance is struggling to gain traction, with 47% expressing an unfavorable view of him, while only 36% feel the same way about Walz, who is running alongside Vice President Kamala Harris.
The polling data comes at a time when Vance has been actively engaging with the media, even with outlets that are perceived as hostile to the Trump campaign. In contrast, Walz and Harris have faced criticism for their lack of transparency with the press.
Harris and Walz recently participated in a joint, pre-recorded interview with CNN’s Dana Bash, but have largely avoided more rigorous press events. Meanwhile, former President Trump and Vance have been actively seeking media coverage, with Trump participating in at least 38 interviews since Harris announced Walz as her running mate.
Vance, who has been critical of Harris for avoiding press scrutiny, has made appearances on various media outlets including Fox News, CNN, NBC News, and more. Despite his efforts, Vance continues to lag behind Walz in favorability ratings.
As the election draws near, the contrast in media strategies between the two campaigns could play a significant role in shaping public opinion. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.