Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday slammed former President Donald Trump’s running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, as a “rubber stamp” who will put his boss’ whims before the needs of the country.
Ms. Harris swiped at Mr. Vance in a 45-second video, setting the table before Mr. Vance introduces himself to the nation in a prime-time speech at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
“Trump looked for someone he knew would be a rubber stamp for his extreme agenda,” Ms. Harris said to the camera. “Make no mistake: J.D. Vance will be loyal only to Trump, not to our country.”
Ms. Harris says Mr. Vance, unlike former Vice President Mike Pence, would have been willing to carry out Mr. Trump’s plans to overturn the 2020 election, and accused Mr. Vance of plotting a national abortion ban.
She linked Mr. Vance to Project 2025, a conservative policy blueprint, saying it would decimate Medicare and programs like Head Start.
“But we are not going to let that happen,” Ms. Harris said.
Project 2025 is a policy document produced by The Heritage Foundation, a Washington think tank. Mr. Trump has said it is not part of his platform, but Democrats have presented it as his agenda.
Mr. Trump selected Mr. Vance, who rose to prominence with his “Hillbilly Elegy” memoir, on Monday. Once a Trump critic, Mr. Vance is viewed as an heir apparent who could carry on the MAGA agenda for years.
Democrats say that is a liability for the GOP ticket. But Republicans in Milwaukee were enthused about the pick and said Mr. Vance would match up favorably against Ms. Harris in a debate.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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