Voters hate JD Vance

In the days since he became Trump's running mate, JD Vance's vulnerabilities have become clear.

Until now, Vance was mostly unknown nationwide. That makes it easier for opponents to define him.

He's also long espoused ideas that are generally unpopular with the public.

Nearly two weeks after former President Donald Trump selected Sen. JD Vance as his running mate, it's safe to say the Ohio politician is struggling.

His polling is the worst of any nonincumbent vice-presidential nominee in decades. His years-old comments about "childless cat ladies" have drawn widespread disgust. Some in Trump's orbit worry they've made the wrong choice. In recent days, he's been the target of a baseless rumor that he once had sex with a couch.

It was always clear that Vance brought little to the table, strictly electorally speaking. He does not represent a swing state, he does not diversify the ticket, and the selection of a MAGA true believer does not reassure more Trump-skeptic voters.

He was the choice of a campaign that was brimming with confidence. President Joe Biden had not yet dropped out of the race, and Trump's team likely made the choice with the idea that it did not need the boost that other vice-presidential contenders could have brought to the ticket, choosing instead to select an heir to the MAGA movement.

What was less predictable were the significant headwinds that Vance is now encountering as the GOP's vice-presidential nominee, which have been driven by the way he's talked about certain policies and enabled by the simple fact that most Americans are just now learning who he is.

Vance was unknown to many Americans before last week

In an AP-NORC poll conducted in the days before Vance was selected, 60% of Americans surveyed said they did not know enough about the Ohio senator to have an opinion about him. Twenty-two percent reported an unfavorable opinion, while just 17% said they had a favorable opinion.