CNN’s Acosta Just Flat Out Asks Ramaswamy If People Like Him Less The More They Get to Know Him: ‘And Isn’t That a Problem?’
CNN’s Jim Acosta went there with GOP 2024 candidate Vivek Ramaswamy on the subject of popularity with voters during an interview over the weekend.
Acosta and Ramaswamy had a tense exchange on the subject of January 6 that drew a great deal of attention, but before that the two discussed the GOP primary race and what recent polling on the candidates might indicate.
Acosta brought up new CNN polling in early primary states, and noted that in South Carolina, “60% of primary voters have ruled out considering you.”
“This comes on the heels of another poll out of Iowa showing that you’re underwater with voters there,” Acosta continued. “Percentage of Iowans who view you unfavorably has risen from 20% in August to now 37%.”
The CNN anchor then put it to Ramaswamy very bluntly: “Are people liking you less as they get to know you? And isn’t that a problem?”
Ramaswamy pointed to Super PACs targeting him by way of response, saying that politics is “a dirty sport” but that he won’t “be intimidated by anybody.”
“But aren’t you going in the wrong direction?” Acosta asked, circling back. “I mean, at this point, you should be surging. Not, not going in a downward direction.”
Ramaswamy said he’s not a horserace analyst but maintained that it’s his belief he’ll be the Republican nominee.
“I’m fully confident we’re going to be successful,” he claimed. “We’re on a trajectory to win this.”
ACOSTA: And let me ask you this. CNN has new polling out of the early primary state of South Carolina showing 60% of likely primary voters have ruled out considering you. This comes on the heels of another poll out of Iowa showing that you’re underwater with voters there. Percentage of Iowans who view you unfavorably has risen from 20% in August to now 37%. Are people liking you less as they get to know you? And isn’t that a problem?
RAMASWAMY: I think the problem is the super PACs. The Super PACs are a cancer on American life. And now what we know is many people in those early states have received individual mailers from Super PACs dedicated specifically to me. So I have to admit, at first I was flattered when I saw it. Nobody knew who I was in March of this year. I’ve now been a solid anywhere between second and fourth in this race for much of it, all the way up through right now. That being said, this is politics.
It’s a dirty sport. And I’m not going to be intimidated by anybody. To the contrary. We’re going to stand and now we’re doubling down our investment into this campaign. I’m confident I’m going to be the nominee. I’m confident we’re going to do well in Iowa and New Hampshire and the other early states. And that’s going to be the path that’s required for me to win. Nobody’s bringing outsiders into this primary like I am. Many of the people we’re reaching are young people who have never participated in a GOP primary. So those polling numbers significantly understate that support. It’s a good position to be in because I think we’re going to deliver a surprise in Iowa.
ACOSTA: But aren’t you going in the wrong direction? I mean, at this point, you should be surging. Not not going in a downward direction.
RAMASWAMY: I’m not a horse race analyst. There have been ups and downs throughout this campaign. We’re actually doing great. I mean, I was at 0.0%. I’m at a solid anywhere between third and fourth nationally. The debate stage is going to be one milestone. But the Iowa Caucus, I have full confidence that we’re going to significantly exceed expectations, shatter norms, and be successful in this race. The only thing I will say is the Super PACs, I’ve said it before will say it again, are a cancer on American politics. And I’m the only Republican candidate with a spine to say it, and I’m the only Republican candidate actually reaching the next generation of Americans who we are bringing into this primary. So I’m fully confident we’re going to be successful, we’re on a trajectory to win this.
Watch the clip above, via CNN.
