Vance Targets Soft-on-Crime Democrats as Republicans Face Tough Midterm Battle: 'They Have Lost Their Minds'

JD Vance joined Ken Paxton in Tyler, Texas, targeting Democrats over violence by Somali groups in Minnesota and rising gasoline prices.

Vice President Vance is taking advantage of a major Democratic weakness as Republicans fight to keep Congress

EXCLUSIVE: TYLER, Texas - Facing an uphill battle in the November midterms, Vice President JD Vance says there is no better alternative - and argues that Democrats are only making existing problems like street crime worse.

"And if you elect Democrats, you're basically electing people who will invite criminals into your state, into your communities, and make your communities less safe," he added, discussing the upcoming duel for control of Congress.

In typically blue Minnesota, Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan is running for a seat in the U.S. Senate, but faces a stiff challenge from Republican Michelle Tafoya.

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"If you vote Republican, you may not agree with us on everything, but we agree on some basic principles," Vance continued. "For example, everyone needs to be safe, everyone needs to be safe in their communities — and we don't want to allow violent criminals into our country."

So I think the contrast is a little more stark with what's happening in Minnesota.

The progressive candidate recently returned from a two-week absence from the campaign trail that Vance described as "weird."

"How old is he? Thirty-five? Forty?" Vance asked Talarico. "You've got to have the energy to do the job and take two weeks off campaigning in October - that's the meat of the campaign - I just think it's a very, very strange thing."

The vice president added that he hopes Talarico is in good health, but Texans will have to gauge whether he has the energy to do the job as a U.S. senator.

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In that matchup, Talarico has requested a debate with Paxton, who has yet to commit. President Donald Trump said the two should talk, posting on Truth Social that Paxton is "ready, willing and able." Vance took a softer line when asked about the potential controversy.

"Obviously, these are things that campaigns have to negotiate," he continued. But, I'll let Ken Paxton and James Talarico make that decision. "At the end of the day, they each have to look out for the people of Texas."

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Of those surveyed in September, 61 percent say gas prices are a big problem, up from 48 percent two years ago, while 52 percent say health care costs are up from 44 percent. Majorities also see housing costs (54 percent down from 60 percent) and food prices (62 percent down from 66 percent) as major problems ahead of the November election.

In a similar poll, 71 percent of respondents said the Trump administration lacks a clear strategy to end the ongoing war in Iran.

The two issues are closely related - because gas prices have risen sharply from the national average of $2.98 per gallon at the beginning of the year, to an average of $4.33 per gallon today.

"Well, we obviously want gas prices to be as low as possible," Vance said. And I think the voters should ask themselves who has taken positive steps to lower gas prices, as opposed to the Iranians terrorizing international shipping?

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Vance accused Democrats of complaining about the problem without offering solutions.

"We saw the president's announcement that Russian diesel was allowed to enter the market," he said. "We have massive refinery capacity that we're announcing we're going to build here. So, we're doing what we can, given that it's going to take some time to build up the energy refining capacity."

"I am very aware that many Americans are struggling with high gas prices," he acknowledged. "We are doing as much as we can to alleviate this pain as much as possible."

The 50th vice president stopped short of providing a definitive end date or marker for the end of the war, but said Iran must commit "not to rebuild [uranium enrichment] capacity and to stay off the path of nuclear weapons."

They're going to stay off the path to nuclear weapons development, and I think the president has been very clear on that.

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As GOP faces tough midterm battle, Vance targets Democrats who use soft-crime: 'They've lost their minds'