Americans generally find Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be more “authentic” than Ohio Sen. JD Vance, according to an Axios Vibes poll about the Democratic and Republican nominees for vice president released on Wednesday. And by 41 percent to 35 percent, they say Walz, the Democrat, understands the issues affecting rural and small-town America better than Vance, the Republican.
“In the battle of real people right now, Walz is more country than Vance,” said John Gerzema, chief executive of the Harris Poll, which conducted the public opinion survey for Axios. “There’s something in Walz that people seem to think is serving, selfless, and sort of that ethos of a teacher, a coach.”
By margins ranging from 5 to 8 percentage points over Vance, participants in the poll say Walz “has an authentic connection to everyday Americans,” “understands the challenges in your community,” and “feels and talks like someone from a small town.” Vance was regarded more than Walz as supporting policies that benefit wealthy people in big cities and being more worried about himself than constituents.
Voters in rural America tend to be social and cultural conservatives. Former president Donald Trump, who is running for a second term, won the rural vote by a 2-to-1 margin in 2020.