Vance returns to Ohio hometown to rally for midterms
Vice President JD Vance returned to his hometown of Middletown, Ohio, on Friday for the first time since becoming vice president, using the visit to rally Republican voters ahead of November's midterm elections, as reported by Al Jazeera. He delivered his speech at a location heavy with personal significance: the Cleveland-Cliffs Middletown Works steel plant where his late grandfather once worked.
"Returning today as the Vice President of the United States, standing in the exact steel mill where my Papaw worked for decades to put food on the table, I couldn't help but feel immense pride," Vance said, according to The Gateway Pundit. "Pride not only of where I came from and the impact places like this had on who I became, but proud to share the amazing news of investment being made here in Middletown, Ohio."
Economic message and investment
Vance used the appearance to tout a $1 billion investment from Cleveland-Cliffs, supported by $500 million in government awards, as reported by Al Jazeera. That funding, he said, illustrated his party's commitment to the manufacturing sector and the reinvigoration of the U.S. economy.
"I'm not saying it's going to be easy – or it's all going to happen overnight – but in just 18 months, we have seen an explosion of rebuilding in the American heartland," Vance said, crediting the growth to policies under President Donald Trump.
According to The Gateway Pundit, Vance also said: "Thanks to President Trump's economic agenda that puts America First, the future of the United States is not going to be sold out to the highest foreign bidder," and "The future of American industry and manufacturing is going to be built in towns all across these great United States."
The plant, formerly known as AK Steel, is the site of a proposed modernization project that could create up to 1,500 jobs during construction, though it still requires regulatory approval, as reported by Baltimore News and WJLA.
Political context and shifting polls
Vance's speech comes at a critical time for the Republican Party and Trump. November's midterm races will decide whether Republicans maintain control of both chambers of Congress, with a potential loss allowing Democrats to stymie Trump's policy priorities or even pursue impeachment, as Al Jazeera noted.
Polling has shown the economy to be the top issue for voters, but perceptions have shifted. According to Al Jazeera, a Pew Research Center poll found that before Trump's second term, voters favored Republicans on the economy, but by July, 37% backed Democrats versus 36% for Republicans. A Reuters-Ipsos poll also found slightly more respondents siding with Democrats on economic policy, and Trump's approval rating stood at 33%, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Trump has publicly dismissed questions about affordability as a "hoax" and a "con job," Al Jazeera reported, while Vance cited efforts to make homeownership more affordable during his speech.
Rally details and community impact
Vance was joined on stage by Senator Jon Husted, the Republican nominee, and attacked Sherrod Brown, saying Brown never raised his voice against the border crisis under Joe Biden or against inflation, as reported by Al Jazeera. Vance also repeated a claim about Abdul El-Sayed calling for "Sharia law," which Al Jazeera described as false.
The Gateway Pundit reported that Vance was joined by Republican Ohio Rep. Eric Conroy at the rally in Middletown, and that afterward, the two traveled to Cincinnati, where Vance served beers and chili dogs at the historic Price Hill Chili restaurant.
"What's better, Skyline or Price Hill Chili?" Vance said as he walked into the bar, according to The Gateway Pundit. He also noted the district had been redrawn and is now one of the 10 most competitive races in the country.
In addition to the rally, the visit prompted logistical preparations in Cincinnati, where Vance has a home. Baltimore News and WJLA reported that road and sidewalk closures will be in place from Thursday afternoon through Sunday, Aug. 23, including on William Howard Taft Road, Collins Avenue, Taft Road Lane, Heatherhill Lane, and Westbound Riverside Drive. Residents inside the closure zone will have access through security checkpoints, with officials expecting law enforcement presence and possible delays.
Counterpoints on Fox News
Meanwhile, on Fox News, host Jessica Tarlov offered rebuttals to Vance's claims, as reported by HuffPost. Tarlov said Vance's assertion that homeownership is becoming accessible again doesn't align with the facts, noting that the average age of first-time homebuyers has hit 40, mortgage rates are up, and construction is down. She linked these issues to the war in Iran, which Trump launched in February and which led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, affecting oil and shipping costs.
Tarlov also cited a CNN-SSRS survey showing 66% disapproval of Trump's job performance and 70% disapproval of his handling of the economy. She noted that "70% of Americans say Donald Trump isn't focused on lowering costs, doesn't care about people like me, and 70% say that he has businesses influence how he makes political decisions. He's made $2.2 billion. JD Vance is describing his own government."
Co-host Greg Gutfeld countered by praising the Department of Government Efficiency, as reported by HuffPost.