In his first solo campaign rallies as the Republican vice-presidential nominee, J.D. Vance sharply criticized Vice President Kamala Harris, who is now the Democratic presidential candidate following President Joe Biden's decision to not seek reelection. Vance accused Harris of being complicit in the Biden administration's failures on issues such as inflation and immigration, and questioned her patriotism and gratitude towards the United States. Speaking in his hometown of Middletown, Ohio, and later in Radford, Virginia, Vance contrasted his background with Harris, emphasizing his military service and small business experience. He also addressed local concerns such as job loss, drug addiction, and the fentanyl crisis, resonating particularly with communities in the Rust Belt and small-town America. Vance's sharp rhetoric and focus on personal and regional issues aim to bolster the GOP ticket led by Donald Trump.