The Daily Observer London Desk: Reporter- Donna Robert
Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley called Vivek Ramaswamy “scum.” Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie described him as Trump’s lap dog and former Vice President Mike Pence dubbed him a “rookie.”
Former President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has praised Mr. Ramaswamy as a “very, very, very intelligent person” and a potential “very good” running mate.
The widely divergent opinions highlight how Mr. Ramaswamy has been the biggest wildcard of the 2024 GOP presidential race. He has shown an uncanny ability to get under the skin of his rivals, who cast him as a snake-oil salesman.
At the same time, the 38-year-old’s unconventional approach, brash confidence, ability to think on his feet and effusive praise for Mr. Trump have turned him into a darling of the MAGA movement, prompting some to suggest he could represent the party’s future.
Mike Biundo, who serves as senior adviser to the Ramaswamy campaign, said his boss’ staying power can be attributed to him being more aligned with the party’s base than any of the candidates in the field.
He said Mr. Ramaswamy’s “America First 2.0 messaging resonates.”
“His earned media strategy of going anywhere, talking to anyone, and taking the debate head-on has allowed him to create a complete campaign,” Mr. Biundo said. “He speaks his truth and does it with authentic conviction, even when it’s a hard conversation to have.
“These things combined with ample resources, a heavy expenditure of shoe leather, and time, have put him in a position to shock the pundits in both Iowa and New Hampshire.”
Mr. Ramaswamy has cast himself as Trump with “fresh legs.”
Critics say Mr. Ramaswamy’s Achilles’ heel is that the more people get to know him, the more people tend to dislike him.
A Des Moines Register poll released this month showed his unfavorable numbers have jumped to 37% from 20% in August. He remains mired in the single digits in the early primary states.
Mr. Ramaswamy, nonetheless, has outlasted more seasoned and well-known Republican rivals, including Mr. Pence and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina. There is a chance Mr. Ramaswamy is one of the three remaining non-Trump contenders to qualify to participate in the fourth GOP presidential debate next month in Alabama.
Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida and Ms. Haley are expected to be on stage. Mr. Christie says he cleared the donor threshold, but he still needs to register more support in polls.
Mr. Ramaswamy has played the role of pest in the debates, seizing a lot of the limelight by initiating dustups with his rivals, and, in the most recent debate, inviting RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel to come up on stage to tender her resignation.
It was the latest in a series of his bold, yet polarizing moves.
Mr. Ramaswamy vowed to pardon Mr. Trump if he is convicted of crimes and pledged to slice the federal workforce by 75%.
He promised to shutter several federal government agencies if elected, including the FBI, Department of Education and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Parts of his message and his antics rub some people the wrong way.
“He has become famous, or at least B-List-presidential-candidate famous,” conservative commentator Rich Lowry said in a recent Politico op-ed. “He exudes such an aura of insincerity, you have the distinct feeling that if neo-conservatism were still in fashion he’d eagerly out-Cheney Liz Cheney.”
Mr. Lowry said the reality is Ramaswamy’s reluctance to criticize Mr. Trump undercuts the bold persona he projects on the campaign trail, arguing he should be blaming Mr. Trump and not Ms. McDaniel for the party’s electoral setbacks since 2018.
“To go after her and not Trump is simply cowardly,” he said. “Even if McDaniel deserves an outsized share of the blame, she got her job as a creature of Trump and has been extremely deferential to his interests.”
Mr. Christie has driven home a similar criticism, saying Mr. Ramaswamy has acted like Mr. Trump’s “wingman”
“Any time Donald Trump says something stupid, Vivek is there with the broom and the dustpan trying to clean up after it,” Mr. Christie said on CNN. “You would think a guy with a Harvard education would be able to get a better job than that. But apparently, he’s just cleaning up what Donald Trump drops every day out of his mouth.”
Ramaswamy campaign spokesperson Tricia McLaughin countered that Mr. Christie‘s dreams of becoming president have evaporated, so he is looking for a new gig.
“Chris Christie continues his audition to renew his CNN contributorship,” he said. “If this doesn’t work out, I hear MSNBC is hiring.”
