The 6 big things to look for in JD Vance’s Republican National Convention speech | Opinion

Editor’s note: Contributing columnist David Mastio is covering the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee for McClatchy Opinion.

Today’s Republican National Convention theme is “Make America strong again,” but it might as well be, “What will Ohio Sen J.D. Vance say in his first speech as Donald Trump’s vice presidential running mate?” More people in the convention’s hallways and TV studios are talking all things Vance than talking about anything related to America’s strength.

Here are six things to look for in the Vance speech tonight:

1. Unlike some past vice presidential candidates, Vance is already well-known by millions who have read “Hillbilly Elegy,” his deeply personal memoir, and have seen the movie about his early life in which Glenn Close plays his “Mamaw.” The Associated Press reports that his personal story is going to be a big part of the speech tonight, but which of two versions of the story will he tell: the version aligned with his old Republican self that identifies the failures of his family with their own irresponsibility and bad decisions, as he writes in the book — or the more populist version in which his family is victim to the powerful forces of drugs and capitalism that shape their lives, as in more recent tellings?

2. How much will Vance have to change positions? How hard can he lean into that right-wing populism that often echoes Elizabeth Warren more than Ronald Reagan? Can he be his full self while running with Trump, who wants to cut corporate tax rates again? How much of the isolationism he has espoused recently comes through on issues such as Ukraine and Israel, where Trump has dubbed himself a more powerful protector and ally than President Joe Biden?

3. Speaking of populism, will we hear anything about Vance’s time as a minion of billionaire Peter Thiel and his work as a venture capitalist at Mithril Capital Management? It is about the least populist thing about Vance.

4. Will he touch the live wire of what happened to Vice President Mike Pence while in the service of Trump? Chants of “Hang Mike Pence!” and the image of an impromptu gallows set up on the grounds of the Capitol on Jan. 6 still haunt Pence staffers who served Trump loyally.

5. Traditionally, V.P. candidates have launched tougher attacks on their opponents than presidential candidates have. Does that hold tonight while we look forward to Trump’s new nicer persona planned for a speech on Thursday? Can any tradition stand up in Trump World?

6. On Tuesday night, Nikki Haley simply ignored her evolution from fierce Trump critic to unapologetic endorser — she barely mentioned it. Can Vance pull off the same feat when he called Trump an “American Hitler?”

David Mastio, a former editor and columnist for USA Today, is a regional editor for The Center Square and a regular Star Opinion correspondent. Follow him on X: @DavidMastio or email him at dmastio1@yahoo.com