Senator J.D. Vance, Republican of Ohio and former President Donald Trump’s running mate, took aim at Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday, accusing her of pandering to southern crowds by adopting a southern accent.
Vance made the comments to reporters before a rally, referencing Harris’s remarks to a crowd in Atlanta, Georgia, the previous night. “She put on a southern accent for a Georgia audience,” Vance said. “She grew up in Vancouver, Canada, and later moved to California. It’s clear she’s trying to be someone she’s not.”
Vance’s criticism comes as he faces his own backlash from Democrats over past comments that have been deemed insensitive and bizarre. However, Vance’s attack on Harris appears to be an attempt to highlight what he sees as her inauthenticity, particularly in her use of a southern accent despite being from California.
Harris’s accent was noticeable during her remarks in Atlanta, where she said, “You all helped us win in 2020 and we gonna do it again in 2024.” The comment has sparked debate about whether Harris is trying to appeal to southern voters by adopting a regional accent.
Vance’s comments echo similar sentiments expressed by Trump at the NABJ convention on Wednesday, where he suggested that Harris has changed her racial identity for political gain. Trump’s comments have been widely criticized, but Vance’s attack on Harris’s accent is likely an attempt to further erode her credibility with voters.
The vice-presidential dynamic is likely to play a significant role in the upcoming election, particularly as Trump faces criticism for his choice of Vance as his running mate. Vance has been seen as a liability by some, and his comments about Harris may be an attempt to shift the focus away from his own controversies.
