Sean Trende, who analyzes politics for RealClearPolitics, is a favorite of COTTonLINE. Today he writes that Sen. J.D. Vance will not help Donald Trump get elected. The reasons Trende gives are relatively persuasive, but not entirely so.
In response I'd make three points. First, Vance is a Marine. Notoriously there are no ex-Marines. Like me you've met many grizzled old guys who are still, in their hearts and minds, Marines. Maybe Trump was going to get the votes of most active and former Marines anyway, but this cinches it.
Second, in the wake of the shooting it looks like Trump would win going away regardless. What Vance provides is a young, smart acolyte who can take the populist MAGA movement forward when Trump term limits out in 2028.
And third, Vance's Asian wife and mixed-race kids provide a ready counter-argument to Democrat claims of Republican racism. That is a big plus when your opponent and his party are obsessed with identity issues.
