JD Vance’s debate performance has Republicans hopeful he’s shaken off ‘weird’ label

Republicans are hoping JD Vance’s performance in the vice presidential debate has helped to shake off his “weird” image and kick-start the campaign for the Republican ticket, according to reports.

For months,Vance has struggled to break free from the “weird” label given to him by his Democratic opponent Tim Walz early on in the 2024 presidential campaign.

But last night could mark a turning point.

Trump campaign aides believe Vance “reset the narrative over his image” and “came across in a more favorable light” in the debate, according to The Guardian.

Throughout the campaign, the Ohio senator has been relentlessly mocked for his “childless cat ladies” comments made in a 2021 interview. The disparaging remarks came back to bite him, working against the Trump campaign after it was adopted by global superstar Taylor Swift and other celebrities in their endorsement of Kamala Harris.

There’s also been other controversies, including peddling false claims that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, have been eating their neighbors’ pets.

And gaffes on the campaign trail –from donut fails to over-inflated egg prices – have also landed him with negative headlines.

However, in stark contrast to the presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris on September 10, the temperature of last night’s debate was much cooler and the personal insults, from both candidates, were left on the sidelines.

And unlike Trump, Vance managed to stay on message.

As a result, Trump’s aides were reportedly “relieved” that Vance came across as “more polished” than Walz, The Guardian reported.

Critics noticed how he appeared to have “softened his image” and displayed a rare “human moment” when responding to Walz’s revelation his son had