During a Thursday live stream on his YouTube channel, NewsNation political contributor Chris Cillizza asserted that Vice President JD Vance is a formidable prospective candidate for the 2028 presidential election, cautioning that Democrats underestimate him “at their own peril.”
An Emerson College poll released on Thursday indicated that Vance possesses a 46 percent favorability rating, surpassing several notable Republicans and Democrats, including prospective candidates for the 2028 election.
Cillizza, responding to the poll on X, asserted that the figures corroborated his conviction that Democrats do not comprehend “Vance’s appeal,” a notion he reiterated during his live stream.
Cillizza expressed a strong positive outlook on JD Vance. “I believe Democrats are underestimating JD Vance to their own detriment, which I contend they are.”
Cillizza previously stated during the broadcast that he considers Donald Trump Jr. the sole Republican capable of potentially defeating Vance for the 2028 GOP nomination.
Cillizza stated that he does not anticipate the president’s son challenging Vance, emphasizing their friendship.
CNN’s chief data analyst, Harry Enten, stated in August that Vance seemed well-positioned to obtain the Republican presidential nomination in 2028.
Enten referenced Vance’s significant lead in preliminary polling and the historical success rate of incumbent vice presidents pursuing their party’s nomination.
“Observe, this is preliminary polling; however, for the GOP nomination, JD Vance is at 40 percent,” Enten stated. “No one is remotely comparable to him.”
Such figures reinforce my overarching conviction that Democrats underestimate Vance’s allure in 2028 at their own risk.
— Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) December 18, 2025
Enten observed that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was polling at eight percent, whereas Donald Trump Jr. was at seven percent.
“It is noteworthy that early frontrunners have secured the nomination 63 percent of the time among candidates since 1980,” Enten stated.
During an August ceremony at the White House, President Donald Trump stated that Vance was “probably favored” to lead the Make America Great Again movement into 2028.
🚨 BREAKING: A concerning new poll for Democrats reveals that JD Vance is 13 points more favored than Gavin Newsom, with a net favorability rating of +5 points among all Americans.
VANCE: 46% – 41% (+5)
NEWSCUM: 33%-44% (decrease of 11)
Remarkable!
This is the adversary they aim to vanquish JD in… pic.twitter.com/p3RMDAGWA1
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 18, 2025
Trump additionally stated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was “also someone who might collaborate with JD in some capacity.”
Rubio informed Vanity Fair in a Tuesday interview that should Vance campaign in 2028, “he will be our nominee, and I will be among the initial supporters.”
🚨 Significant 2028 GOP announcement: Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserts that if Vice President JD Vance enters the presidential race, ‘he will be our nominee, and I will be among the initial supporters.’
No internal conflict—Rubio’s deferral paves the way. Trump described a Vance-Rubio alliance as ‘unstoppable’!
Survey:… pic.twitter.com/Gtoa8j3plO
— End3of6Days9 (Helen) 🇺🇸 (@end3of6days9) December 17, 2025
In July, Rubio stated on Fox News’ “My View with Lara Trump” that “JD Vance would be an excellent nominee” should he pursue the presidency.
Political analyst Mark Halperin stated on Fox News’ “Special Report” in May that Vance and Rubio may eventually head the Republican ticket.
Halperin stated, “I genuinely believe that JD Vance and Marco Rubio could form a predetermined ticket in 2028, unlike anything we have witnessed previously.”
An Emerson College hypothetical poll conducted in October indicated that Vance possesses a one-point advantage over Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom in a prospective 2028 general election contest.
