Shillong, August 20: Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has firmly expressed his disinterest in pursuing the role of vice president if he fails to secure the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.
Ramaswamy, the youngest contender in the presidential race, shared in an interview with Fox News that he, like his Republican rival Donald Trump, wouldn’t thrive in a secondary position, as reported by ‘The Hill’.
“I’m not looking for an alternative role within the government,” he conveyed during the Fox News interview on Saturday. Ramaswamy emphasized his preference for creating change through the private sector rather than assuming a subordinate role in federal government as a number 2 or number 3.
This stance echoes that of fellow Indian-American GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley, who has also stated her lack of interest in the vice presidency. Despite being new to the political arena, Ramaswamy garnered attention by surprisingly tying with his competitor, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, for second place in a recent Emerson College poll. The poll indicated DeSantis and Ramaswamy both at 10 percent, with former President Donald Trump leading at 56 percent.
Nearly half of Ramaswamy’s supporters have indicated their definite intention to vote for him, whereas only a third of DeSantis’ supporters have expressed the same certainty, as reported by ‘The Hill’. Ramaswamy’s appeal has grown among postgraduate degree holders, capturing 17 percent of this demographic, and among younger voters under the age of 35, securing 16 percent of their support, according to Emerson College Polling Executive Director Spencer Kimball.
The budding entrepreneur received recognition from billionaire Elon Musk, who referred to him as “a promising candidate”. As the 2024 presidential campaign unfolds, Ramaswamy and his contenders are actively preparing for the GOP’s inaugural debate scheduled for August 23. The Republican National Convention will convene in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from July 15-18, 2024, to officially nominate the party’s next presidential candidate.