According to the conventional wisdom of the chattering class, Donald Trump’s selection of JD Vance for vice president has been an abject disaster that has the former president doubting his instincts. But the story on the campaign trail looks a little different, and the GOP may be forging a new funding base.

In conversations with voters around nine states over the past few weeks since the announcement, I have found a few surprises, including that Vance was not the first choice of almost any of the Republicans and independents I spoke with.

This, notwithstanding the fact that among the very online, hard core supporters of Trump, Vance was enormously popular and very much the first choice. However, even though he might not have been their favorite, right-leaning voters appear wildly supportive of the pick.

At the Carroll County Fair last weekend in Maryland, I heard the words, "steady," and "honorable man" from a pair of guys I talked to. Among men in particular, Vance has an understated personal style and qualities that they admire.