Vance’s Pugnacious Performance Breaks VP Norms
- Here's a breakdown of the key points from the provided text, focusing on the comparison between how Donald Trump and Joe Biden utilize thier Vice Presidents (Mike Pence...
- Biden's Approach: The central argument is that Trump intentionally kept Mike Pence as a low-profile figure to reassure conservatives, while he appears to be actively grooming JD Vance...
- In essence, the article paints a picture of two very different approaches to the vice presidency, driven by the distinct personalities and political goals of the presidents.
Here’s a breakdown of the key points from the provided text, focusing on the comparison between how Donald Trump and Joe Biden utilize thier Vice Presidents (Mike Pence and Kamala Harris, respectively, and now potentially JD Vance):
* Trump vs. Biden’s Approach: The central argument is that Trump intentionally kept Mike Pence as a low-profile figure to reassure conservatives, while he appears to be actively grooming JD Vance to be a highly visible and active Vice President. Biden, conversely, didn’t actively cultivate Harris in the same way and even had to be pushed to allow her more prominence.
* Pence’s Role: Pence is described as lacking “pizzazz” and being deliberately sidelined by trump. His purpose was to quietly reassure the conservative base.
* harris’s Constraints: Several factors limited Harris’s visibility and influence:
* COVID-19 Lockdowns: Restricted travel and public events.
* Senate Tie-Breaks: The narrow Democratic control of the Senate required her presence in Washington to break ties, setting a historical record.
* Biden’s Legislative Focus: Biden,a long-time legislator,viewed Harris as a junior partner in governing.
* Trump’s Promotional Style: Trump, coming from a background in entertainment and promotion, sees Vance as a tool to amplify his message and “turn up the volume.”
* Vance as a Successor: The article suggests Trump is positioning Vance as a potential successor, something Biden didn’t do with Harris.
* Trump’s Desire for a Third Term: A brief mention is made of Trump’s desire to circumvent the Constitution and run for a third term, which would further impact Vance’s role.
In essence, the article paints a picture of two very different approaches to the vice presidency, driven by the distinct personalities and political goals of the presidents. Trump wants a loud, active partner in Vance, while Biden initially seemed content with a more traditional, supporting role for Harris, though circumstances forced her into a more visible position.