Vivek Ramaswamy Declares for the Presidency
A number of people have said Vivek Ramaswamy’s run for the presidency is akin to Donald Trump’s in 2016, so anything is possible. I actually think the closer comparison is to Andrew Yang.
Ramaswamy has the potential to build a coalition that transcends traditional Republican coalition building with his focus on ESG and, in particular, a battle against the cloistered mind of the left. I know plenty of progressives who want someone with an upbeat message, a technocratic mind, and private sector success. They liked Yang. They’d like Ramaswamy.
For those who do not know him, he is a charismatic, gifted speaker who has been spending a lot of time arguing against Environmental, Social, and Governance criteria in investments (“ESG”). He is an American entrepreneur who is very wealthy through his own initiative and hard work. His is a first generation Ameican who, through his own hard work, built companies, engaged at the upper echelons of finance, and believes the woke agenda will deprive future generations of the same ability to succeed like he had.
What excites me about his entry is that we get more of a hopeful, optimistic, pro-America candidacy — his entry comes the same day Marjorie Taylor Greene wants out of America as much as she wants out of her marriage.
The dangers of a Ramaswamy candidacy are mostly personal on his side. He files private (I promise I’m not jealous). He has money. That combo means he risks being picked apart by political consultants who will not care if he wins or loses. They will make a fortune at his expense. Republican millionaires who run for office notoriously get taken advantage of. He will need to be shrewd in picking people around him. Vivek, consider yourself advised on that.
A Ramaswamy candidacy also continues down a road many donors and activists fear — a crowded field that benefits Trump. One senior GOP official told me he views Ramaswamy as running for a Cabinet position from a presidential campaign. He will need to get buy-in from both the base and donor class even if he self-funds. The conversations happen on both ends. His candidacy strikes many as a way to help Trump, even if that is not his intention.
In fact, go on social media, and some of the most welcoming of Ramaswamy into the race are Trump supporters. They think Ramswamy takes away from DeSantis’s message while diluting the field to Trump’s benefit.
I’m not sure that is the case. Trump supporters went for Trump because Trump was a new and successful outsider who was willing to be a bull in the china shop. That sounds very much like Vivek Ramaswamy. Out on the campaign trail already, Nikki Haley appears to be capturing the attention of a good-sized minority of Trump voters. They’ve been showing up at her events in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina not to protest her but to see what she says. Many recognize the generational issues with Trump and want Trump policies with a younger person who might get eight years instead of the lame duck four Trump would have.
Ramaswamy could erode some of Trump’s base with his anti-woke cultural message, youth, and business success. He is, after all, a winner.
My gut is that Ramaswamy, like Andrew Yang, can shape the conversation but will not meaningfully impact the race. His issues are issues worth talking about. His voice is one of the best on those issues. I’m intrigued by what he might do in the race and how he builds a team around him that does not rob him blind. That said, I’m not sure who his natural coalition is nor how he converts an anti-ESG message into meaningful support at a low dollar-to-voter ratio when there’s another anti-ESG candidate getting into the race who is also a governor with a track record on the same issues, not just speeches.
Time will tell. But now I need to invite an unexpected, new candidate to sit on stage at The Gathering and tell his story to the grassroots in person.
I would suggest that a deeper look into Vivek would indicate he has more to offer than you wrote about here. His ESG message translated, is more about giving power to the people. And his second book is a condemnation of the victomhood culture that has developed. On both sides. In other words, this election isn’t rigged. He has no grievances on his own behalf, but a call to action to take back what is ours. I think he will have a strong influence on those in the center, in addition to what you pointed out. And Andrew Yang was a universal income whack job. Vivek is multi faceted.
I hope people listen to him and pay attention. He is a great speaker and articulates his ideas in a manner that anyone can understand. Unfortunately, I doubt that most of the population has heard of him. But I would certainly vote for him if he were the candidate. And I would love to see a DeSantis/Ramaswamy ticket.