US vice presidential hopeful JD Vance has been handed a second PR blow on the campaign trail in just days after reportedly being denied access to a restaurant.
Vance had hoped to speak at sandwich outlet Primanti Bros in Pennsylvania – but was rebuffed by an employee, who told him they did not want a “campaign event”, according to an NBC reporter at the scene.
After the snub, Trump’s running-mate was forced to address supporters outside – with diners hoping to hear Vance in Primanti Bros cancelling their orders after finding out he wasn’t welcome.
But Vance dished out a diplomatic response to the setback, saying: “We paid for everyone’s food, we gave them a nice tip – and of course, when I gave a nice tip, I said: ‘no taxes on tip!’
Vance has been painted as “weird” by the US Left
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He added: “Don’t hold it against [the restaurant worker] – it’s a great local business, let’s keep on supporting it.”
That came just days after he was lambasted by Democrats for claiming the Harris administration had pushed the price of eggs above $4 (£3) – standing in front of said eggs, price-tagged at $2.99 (£2.23).
Vance has been painted as “weird” by the US Left practically since his naming as a VP candidate back in July.
But Trump’s chosen second-in-command has fired back, saying just last week: “Even when the media attacks me, I will listen to you about what’s going on in your communities, because that’s what a leader ought to do.”
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“Don’t hold it against [the restaurant worker] – it’s a great local business, let’s keep on supporting it,” Vance said
REUTERS
His leadership credentials will doubtless be put to the test tomorrow – or, in the UK, in the early hours of October 2 – when he goes head-to-head against Democratic VP pick Tim Walz.
With a little over a month to go until November 5’s election day, October 1’s debate is the only one scheduled between the prospective Vice Presidents.
One of Vance’s goals will be to portray Walz as a leftist masquerading as a moderate, according to one of the people involved in the Republican’s debate preparations.
One of Vance’s goals will be to portray Walz as a leftist masquerading as a moderate
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But he’ll also likely be looking to take pot-shots at Kamala Harris’s VP pick’s military record – as well as previous false claims about “weapons of war that I carried into war” that even the Democratic campaign has said were erroneous.
And, closer to home in Minnesota, Walz will likely be pushed on how he, as governor, handled the 2020 riots in Minneapolis after the death of George Floyd.
Speaking ahead of the debate, Republican strategist Ron Bonjean said: “It’s absolutely fair to ask Walz about how he painted his military background because he has been very careful on how he has answered this.
But he counselled that Vance should keep his focus on how “another Trump presidency can help voters with solutions to their kitchen table issues in order to attract independent voters in toss-up states”.