A Ramaswamy-Harris V.P. Debate Could be a Pay-Per-View Bonanza
The Republican primary season has barely gotten underway, but it’s probably already over. While voting in Iowa and New Hampshire is still six months away, Donald Trump’s polling numbers remain dominant, and it’s difficult to see a pathway for any of his competitors to win the nomination.
The more intriguing question going forward will be the speculation surrounding Trump’s choice for vice-president. Several reports indicate Trump is set on choosing either a woman or conservative of color as his running mate. However, as events continue to unfold and the declared candidates gain exposure, Trump would be foolish to dismiss surging Vivek Ramaswamy.
In fact, a recent Echelon Insights poll showed Ramaswamy was favored by 10% of the respondents, just 6% behind Ron DeSantis. If confirmed by future polls, this would be a seismic shift in voter sentiment since Ramaswamy is currently at 2.4% in the most recent RealClear politics consensus polling. While other candidates besides DeSantis seem mired in the <5% quagmire, Vivek is distinguishing himself.
If you listen and watch him, it’s easy to draw comparisons to Barack Obama in terms of delivery, persuasion and magnetism. However, unlike Obama, Ramaswamy has razor sharp wit and the ability to process information quickly in real time, which allows him to parry the barrage of attacks and “gotcha” questions from the leftist media, something Obama never had to deal with. Still, even with his growing momentum, it’s a stretch to believe Ramaswamy has a legitimate shot at the presidential nomination in 2024. Republican demographics just don’t favor him in this election cycle.
Comparing and Contrasting Harris and Ramaswamy
Kamala Harris is a disaster as a vice president, and it’s reflected in her most recent polling numbers. An astounding 49% of registered voters hold a negative view, offset by 32% who view her positively. The -17% net negative approval rating is the lowest for any vice president in history, which is remarkable since she is a leftist Democrat, and polling results are routinely skewed accordingly.
Yet, it should be no surprise Harris is regarded so negatively. Her strange, befuddling word salad answers suggest a mental deficiency of some sort, and her obvious inability to understand and reason through complex issues leaves the American public uneasy over the prospect of Harris assuming the presidency if Joe Biden should leave office due to age or death.
Listen to these answers and decide for yourself if this is the person you would want to handle the nuclear codes. I warn you in advance, brain cells will die in the process.
Then there was this gem:
It makes one wonder what kind of conversations Harris and Biden have one-on-one. A senile guy talking to an airhead… And you wonder why the country is so off the rails?
Juxtapose Harris’ rambling answers to Ramaswamy slam dunking Don Lemon on CNN:
Several reports suggested that CNN’s termination of Lemon was directly related to his loss of composure, as he resorted to insults and condescension as Ramaswamy kept his cool and fired back.
This exchange with smug Chuck Todd might have been even better:
Ramaswamy’s answers are thoughtful, well-considered, respectful and delivered with just the right mixture of compassion and fortitude.
A Ramaswamy-Harris Verbal SmackDown
If the stars align, and Ramaswamy makes it through the primary season without threatening or pissing off Trump, logic dictates he should become a slam dunk favorite for the vice-presidential nomination. Four years in Washington would put the inevitable “lack of experience” argument to bed and provide Ramaswamy with a natural platform to lead the 2028 transition from a party highly dependent on baby boomers to a base comprised of millennials and Gen Z. This is a change that must happen within the next decade, and there is no Republican in a better position to lead that evolution than Vivek Ramaswamy.
However, perhaps the most compelling part of a Ramaswamy vice presidential campaign would be the debate with Kamala Harris. I’m not sure how to characterize it. Maybe Mike Tyson versus Michael Spinks, where Spinks hit the canvas in 91 seconds? Perhaps USC vs. Oklahoma in the 2005 Rose Bowl where the Trojans stomped the Sooners 55-19?
The only thing I can promise is that the debate would be a verbal bloodbath. The differences in intellect, delivery and depth of understanding would be a chasm so wide, it would expose Harris as a lightweight and remind the American people that our leaders should be the best and brightest, not those with the deepest pockets, the most influential connections or the right skin color.
I hope it happens, and I mean this when I say I’d pony up the $49 to watch it on pay-per-view.
