Well, former President Donald Trump finally did. As reported Thursday, he appears to have endorsed J.D. Vance over retiring Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) in a statement in which he called Vance “a highly qualified candidate ready to win in November.”
On Friday night, The New York Times’ Maggie Haberman tweeted that Trump endorsed Vance, the author of “Hillbilly Elegy.”
I am incredibly honored to have President Trump’s support. He was an incredible warrior for hardworking Americans in the White House and will be again, and I will fight for America First in the Senate. https://t.co/s3d3JhTgBC
— JD Vance (@JDVance1) April 15, 2022
Trump’s endorsement comes despite the letter obtained and published by POLITICOwhich was apparently signed by Republican county chairmen, although at least one, as I reported earlier on Friday, indicated that he had not signed the letter. This includes Tony J. Schroeder, chairman of the Putnam County Republican Party.
The three dozen chairmen who signed the letter expressed concerns about Vance’s previous anti-Trump statements during the 2016 presidential election. In particular, the letter had no header.
In his statement Friday in support of Vance, Trump addressed concerns some had about Vance. “Like some others, JD Vance may have said some not-so-nice things about me in the past, but he gets it now and I’ve seen it in spades. He is our best chance of winning what could be a very difficult race. “
Trump also acknowledged that it was quite a crowded race. “It is not easy for me to express this support because I like and respect some of the other candidates in this race,” he noted, although he did not name names.
Trump’s endorsement actually indicates that “I think JD will most likely beat a weak but dangerous Democratic opponent” and that “Thanks to JD Vance, Ohio is gaining both brains and brawn.”
He also mentioned how well he did in Ohio, winning both now redder states in 2016 with 51.7% of the votes i in 2020 with 53.3% of the votes. “Ohio has been good to me, I won twice, a REALLY BIG one, and I was GREAT for Ohio. Keep it up!”
Trump’s endorsement ends with a reference to Make America Great Again, in which he calls on his supporters to rally around Vance. “It’s time for the entire MAGA movement, the largest in our country’s history, to unite around JD’s campaign because unlike many other challengers and wannabes, he will put America first. In other words, JD Vance has my complete and Total endorsement. He won’t let you down. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN,” Trump concluded.
Trump also had problems with other candidates, including former Ohio State Treasurer Josh Mandel and financier Mike Gibbons. According to to the author’s report Maggie Haberman and Jazmine Ulloa for The New York Times:
According to a Republican familiar with Trump’s thinking, he was influenced by several factors, including watching clips of the first GOP debate in which the two candidates, Mandel and Gibbons, argued. -finger fighting. That ended any chance that Trump, who attributes his victory this year to the 2016 presidential debates, might endorse either one, the Republican said. After watching the last debate, Mr. Trump was also impressed by Mr. Vance’s speech.
Trump also told allies that he thinks the leading Democratic candidate, Rep. Tim Ryan, will be tough to beat in the general election and that he thinks Vance can beat him.
Ohio’s May 3 primary date is quick approaching, and early voting has already begun. Polls show Vance struggling in a crowded field. However, Trump’s support could enable him to win in a case where the winner matters most.
This closely watched Senate seat, which is on several lists of races to watch in the upcoming November midterms, is considered as there will be one that favors Republicans. Democrats currently control the Senate by only a 50-50 vote, as Vice President Kamala Harris serves as the tie-breaking vote.
