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Former Ambassador Nikki Haley called Vivek Ramaswamy “scum.” Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie described him as Trump’s lap dog, and former Vice President Mike Pence dubbed him a “rookie.”
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump has praised Mr. Ramaswamy as a “very, very intelligent person” and a potential “very good” running mate.
The widely divergent opinions highlight Mr. Ramaswamy’s position as the biggest wild card of the 2024 Republican presidential race. He has shown an uncanny ability to get under the skin of his rivals, who cast him as a snake oil salesman.
At the same time, the 38-year-old’s unconventional approach, brash confidence, ability to think on his feet and effusive praise of Mr. Trump have turned him into a MAGA darling. Some suggest he could represent the party’s future.
Mike Biundo, senior adviser to the Ramaswamy campaign, said his boss is more aligned with the party’s base than any other candidate in the field.
He said Mr. Ramaswamy’s “America First 2.0 messaging resonates.”
“His earned media strategy of going anywhere, talking to anyone, and taking the debate head-on has allowed him to create a complete campaign,” Mr. Biundo said. “He speaks his truth and does it with authentic conviction, even when it’s a hard conversation to have.
“These things, combined with ample resources, a heavy expenditure of shoe leather and time, have put him in a position to shock the pundits in both Iowa and New Hampshire.”
Mr. Ramaswamy has cast himself as Trump with “fresh legs.”
Critics say Mr. Ramaswamy’s Achilles’ heel is his declining favorability once people get to know him.
A Des Moines Register poll released this month showed Mr. Ramaswamy’s unfavorable numbers jumped to 37% from 20% in August. He remains mired in the single digits in polls for the early primary states.
Mr. Ramaswamy, nonetheless, has outlasted more seasoned and well-known Republican candidates, including Mr. Pence and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina. He might be one of the three remaining non-Trump contenders to qualify for the fourth Republican presidential debate next month in Alabama.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Ms. Haley are expected to be on stage. Mr. Christie says he cleared the donor threshold but needs to register more support in polls.
Mr. Ramaswamy has played the role of pest in the debates. He has seized a lot of the limelight by initiating dust-ups with his rivals and, in the most recent debate, inviting Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel to step onto the stage to tender her resignation.
It was the latest in a series of his bold yet polarizing moves.
Mr. Ramaswamy vowed to pardon Mr. Trump if the former president is convicted of crimes and pledged to slice the federal workforce by 75%.
He promised to shutter several federal government agencies if elected, including the FBI, the Department of Education and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Parts of his message and his antics irritate some people.
“He has become famous, or at least B-List-presidential-candidate famous,” conservative commentator Rich Lowry said in a recent Politico op-ed. “He exudes such an aura of insincerity, you have the distinct feeling that if neo-conservatism were still in fashion he’d eagerly out-Cheney Liz Cheney.”
Mr. Lowry said Mr. Ramaswamy’s reluctance to criticize Mr. Trump undercuts the bold persona he projects on the campaign trail. He argues that Mr. Ramaswamy should blame Mr. Trump, not Ms. McDaniel, for the Republican Party’s electoral setbacks since 2018.
“To go after her and not Trump is simply cowardly,” he said. “Even if McDaniel deserves an outsized share of the blame, she got her job as a creature of Trump and has been extremely deferential to his interests.”
Mr. Christie has said Mr. Ramaswamy acts like Mr. Trump’s “wingman.”
“Anytime Donald Trump says something stupid, Vivek is there with the broom and the dustpan trying to clean up after it,” Mr. Christie said on CNN. “You would think a guy with a Harvard education would be able to get a better job than that. But apparently, he’s just cleaning up what Donald Trump drops every day out of his mouth.”
Ramaswamy campaign spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin countered that Mr. Christie’s dreams of becoming president have evaporated, so he is looking for a new gig.
“Chris Christie continues his audition to renew his CNN contributorship,” he said. “If this doesn’t work out, I hear MSNBC is hiring.”
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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