US VP Vance campaigns in hometown with eye on 2028

US Vice-President JD Vance made a return visit to his hometown of Middletown, Ohio, on Friday to campaign for Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections. This visit also serves as a test for his potential bid to succeed Donald Trump in 2028. The speech took place at the steel plant where Vance's grandfather worked for an impressive 40 years, a place that played a significant role in his bestselling memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy."

Vance spoke about the Trump administration's progress on various issues, including the affordability crisis caused by rising prices. He expressed frustration over the anger that Americans are experiencing due to these soaring costs, which his boss, Trump, has dismissed as a hoax launched by rival Democrats.

Despite his centrist approach, Vance did not shy away from voicing criticism towards the opposition. He urged Republicans to vote in November and told them, "Get out there and fight for yourself by telling the far-left radicals who have taken over the Democratic Party: This is not your country. It's our country, and we're going to fight for it."

The race to succeed Trump in 2028 is set to intensify after the midterms. Although Vance has not formally confirmed his intention to run, he is positioning himself as the heir to Trump's MAGA movement. However, Republican Party insiders are also considering Florida Senator Marco Rubio as a potential contender. A recent poll by Emerson College and The Hill found that Rubio outperformed Vance in all but one of five head-to-head matches against leading Democratic contenders.

On the Democratic side, the party is grappling with the aftermath of Trump's 2024 defeat of then-vice-president Kamala Harris. The far-left wing of the party has gained significant ground through primary wins, while centrists aim to distance themselves from socialist-style proposals like universal health care.