By — Trey Brannon Trey Brannon Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-vance-pick-for-vp-cements-the-gops-populist-turn-strategist-lanhee-chen-says Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH: Vance pick for VP cements the GOP’s populist turn, strategist Lanhee Chen says Politics Jul 15, 2024 10:38 PM EDT Republican strategist Lanhee Chen, a fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, said Monday that former President Donald Trump’s selection of J.D. Vance as his running mate cements the populist turn the Republican Party has taken. READ MORE: Fact-checking J.D. Vance’s past statements and relationship with Trump “He really represents a very different perspective on economic policy than traditional Republicans might,” Chen told PBS News. “There’s also the obvious generational differences, 39-years-old would move the party in a very different direction from a leadership perspective.” “From a political perspective, one can argue that he really changes the dynamic in the Midwest, that ‘Blue Wall’ that’s been talked about so much. He really allows Donald Trump to cement a lot more support in some of those states,” Chen added. WATCH: 2024 RNC delegates react to Trump shooting PBS News Hour co-anchor Amna Nawaz also asked Chen how the assassination attempt against Trump could change the race. “I expect that we’ll see the polling bounce for the former president and he’ll gain support. The question is how durable those gains will be and where those gains are coming from,” Chen said. “If they’re coming from independent voters that might be something that’s a little bit more concerning to the Biden team.” A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Trey Brannon Trey Brannon
Republican strategist Lanhee Chen, a fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, said Monday that former President Donald Trump’s selection of J.D. Vance as his running mate cements the populist turn the Republican Party has taken. READ MORE: Fact-checking J.D. Vance’s past statements and relationship with Trump “He really represents a very different perspective on economic policy than traditional Republicans might,” Chen told PBS News. “There’s also the obvious generational differences, 39-years-old would move the party in a very different direction from a leadership perspective.” “From a political perspective, one can argue that he really changes the dynamic in the Midwest, that ‘Blue Wall’ that’s been talked about so much. He really allows Donald Trump to cement a lot more support in some of those states,” Chen added. WATCH: 2024 RNC delegates react to Trump shooting PBS News Hour co-anchor Amna Nawaz also asked Chen how the assassination attempt against Trump could change the race. “I expect that we’ll see the polling bounce for the former president and he’ll gain support. The question is how durable those gains will be and where those gains are coming from,” Chen said. “If they’re coming from independent voters that might be something that’s a little bit more concerning to the Biden team.” A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now