Overview
- The CPAC straw poll results released Saturday showed Vice President JD Vance at 53% and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at 35%, with all other names at 2% or less.
- Rubio’s jump from 3% last year to 35% reflects his high-profile defense of the Iran campaign and a larger role in foreign policy, while Vance keeps a cautious line on extended military action.
- A Reuters/Ipsos poll found President Trump’s approval at 36% after weeks of strikes on Iran and a spike in fuel prices, increasing political risk for Republicans heading into the midterms.
- Donor maneuvering is underway as Vance headlined a closed-door Rockbridge Network summit in Nashville, which reporting linked to major GOP funders who are beginning to align early.
- Trump has privately asked allies “JD or Marco?” and has floated a Vance–Rubio ticket, according to Reuters reporting that cites people familiar with his thinking, while Rubio has said he would defer if Vance runs.