Former Harris Aide Identifies the One Republican She Believes Would Be the ‘Greatest Threat’ in VP Debate

A former aide to Kamala Harris has identified the one Republican she believes would be the most formidable opponent on a debate stage with the vice president. 

“I think JD Vance would pose the greatest threat to Kamala Harris,” Ashley Etienne, Harris’s former communications director, told CNN’s Laura Coates last week. 

“I mean, he’s an incredible debater. I think he has this quality that makes him seem palpable to that 1 to 2 percent that actually might vote or that’s undecided, that will actually pay attention to the debates because most people don’t pay attention to the debates,” she said.

“I think he’s just got a quality about him where he’s super smart and sharp and quick-witted. I just think they’d like it, I think it’s going to be a challenge to see the two of them face-to-face. I mean, maybe it’s just me, but I think he’s gonna be the greatest threat,” Coates added. 

Kamala Harris’s former Comms director, Ashley Etienne, says she thinks JD Vance “would pose the greatest threat” to Harris in a VP debate

Comes as Trump and his team are considering how each prospective running mate would fare on a debate stage with the VP pic.twitter.com/pSxJEFOHAw

— Alayna Treene (@alaynatreene) June 17, 2024

Reactions to that assessment were mixed.

She’s right. @JDVance1 would clean Kamala’s clock https://t.co/WFEY3bHTXK

— Ryan James Girdusky (@RyanGirdusky) June 17, 2024

You know Democrats want JD Vance when they admit he's a threat to Harris.

If they hated Vance they would say he doesn't stand a chance against Harris. https://t.co/WDb0SuN8xo

— Wendy Patterson (@wendyp4545) June 17, 2024

Former President Donald Trump has said he will announce his VP pick at the Republican National Convention next month in Milwaukee. 

Those reportedly on the shortlist include Sens. Tim Scott (R-SC), Marco Rubio (R-FL), J.D. Vance (R-OH), North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Reps. Byron Donalds (R-FL), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), and Dr. Ben Carson, Trump’s former Housing and Urban Development secretary.