'Historically unpopular' JD Vance deploying new strategy to duck tough questions: report

After a string of blunders, misrepresentations and outright fabrications that have dogged embattled vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance on the campaign as Donald Trump's running mate, the Ohio Republican is deploying his MAGA fans to run interference for him when confronted with reporters' questions.

According to a report from Politico's Adam Wren, there has been a noticeable change at "historically unpopular" Vance's sparsely-attended rallies where the candidate picks out a reporter to ask him a question and then the pro-Vance crowd surrounding him proceeds to boo and drown out his inquisitor.

Case in point, Wren wrote, "Inside an open-air barn at the Northwest Michigan Fairgrounds, Vance, who favors questions from local reporters before national ones at his events, called on the Traverse City Record-Eagle reporter, who identified himself as the 'hometown' scribe. Before he even got his question out — a relatively anodyne one about housing costs — the reporter endured a hail of boos as the Republican vice presidential nominee smiled" and then commented, "You’re allowed to ask your question; they’re allowed to tell you how they think about it. That’s OK. This is America.”

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According to the reporter in that instance, 65-year-old Peter Kobs, Vance has his own Greek chorus doing his bidding.

“The Greek chorus is there to amplify and, you know, put emotion in it. But hating the media is a juvenile approach to politics," he stated.

According to Jeff Timmer of the anti-Trump Lincoln Project, Vance is insulating himself after a series of mistakes and awkward encounters – such as a disastrous visit to a donut shop that went viral — in front of the press.

“He was so bad without a supporting cast, they had to kind of wrap him in this bubble wrap. That’s what the people backing him there are doing. It’s bubble wrap to protect them from smashing his head," he colorfully explained.

According to Robert Schwartz, a “Haley Voters for Harris” Republican, Vance's latest tactic "feels a little hostile."

“I would say it’s important for the candidates to be able to answer questions. So I think that’s a good thing. But using our independent media as a prop to get boo lines? Most Americans rely on the media to ask these questions," he suggested.

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