The final days of the veepstakes are upon us — and Senator J.D. Vance may have an unusual ally in his corner: his longtime business partner, who just so happens to be President Joe Biden’s former chief of staff. Ron Klain called Vance a “GREAT GOP candidate” a few years ago.
While President Donald Trump’s veep pick is still unknown, it’s rumored to be down to Senators Vance and Marco Rubio, along with North Dakota’s governor, Doug Burgum. Ironically, old tweets from Klain, and not Trump, are flying around the GOP ecosystem, drudging up Vance’s awkward ties to one of Biden’s closest aides.
In 2017, Vance joined Revolution, a DC-based investment firm where Klain worked as a vice president. It was run by Steve Case, the liberal billionaire founder of AOL. The next year, Vance considered running for both Senate and governor in Ohio, ultimately deciding against both, in part because “he was particularly concerned that his opposition to Trump would turn off base GOP voters.” Klain rejoiced at this news “b/c: (1) We love him at @Revolution ; (2) He’d be a GREAT GOP candidate!” he tweeted at the time.
Vance teamed up with Klain and Case on Midwestern road trips. “Come on @SteveCase @JDVance1 finish up in #AnnArbor and bring the bus here. We’re ready for @RiseOfRest in #Indy,” Klain tweeted in 2017. Vance appeared on multiple panels while on tour with the prominent Democrats. One of their guests was Chef Jose Andres, well known for his anti-Trump commentary in his own right. Another was Indiana’s then-Democratic senator Joe Donnelly, who was up for a competitive reelection in 2018.
In addition to his work with Klain, Vance famously worked with the now-virulently anti-Trump GOP megadonor, Peter Thiel, prior to his decision to ultimately run for Senate in 2022 when he beat Democratic yoga enthusiast Tim Ryan by almost double digits. In order to win, Vance prevailed in a contentious GOP primary where his past critiques of Trump proved insufficient to prevent the former president from endorsing him.
While Thiel’s money helped Vance win last cycle, his relationship with Vance may have turned from an asset to a liability in the veepstakes. Thiel, who famously spoke in support of Trump at the 2016 RNC, said last week that “if you hold a gun to my head I’ll vote for Trump,” while adding that he will not be financially supporting the campaign.” Another Vance 2022 investor, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, saying that Vance “wouldn’t be here but for my efforts” may also harm him with the anti-McConnell forces is Trump’s orbit.
Klain, a prolific tweeter, has been mum in his praise of his former business partner since he potentially emerged as Trump’s right-hand man.
