The life of the Republican candidate for US Vice President JD Vance is a typical story of a successful boy from a small town. He grew up in Appalachia, graduated from one of the most prestigious universities in America, and could be elected one of the youngest vice presidents in history.
Jackson, Kentucky, isn't where he was born - but JD Vance calls it home.
"When I proposed to my wife, I said, 'Honey, I'm $120.000 in student loan debt and I own a tombstone in eastern Kentucky,'" he said at one of the rallies.
Everyone knew Vance's grandmother as Memaw - a word used by French settlers in Louisiana.
"He always came here with her. She was bringing him to show him the way of life here, which he obviously liked," Sheriff John Holan of Kentucky County described for Voice of America.
JD Vance was born in Middletown, Ohio. To the greatest extent, he was raised by a strict grandmother, who often cursed and kept 19 loaded guns in the home.
Carrying his stepfather's surname, he won the first elections in which he participated. Symbolic or not, it was a vote for the vice president of his generation at Middletown High School. He served in the Army in the Marines and then graduated with honors from Ohio State University.
During his studies at the prestigious Yale University, he met law student Usha Chilakuri, whom he married.
"I think she helped him decide what he wanted to do, shape his path after college," their college classmate James Aimers recalled.
He became known in 2016 when he published a well-known book, later turned into a film called "Elegy of the Mountaineers", about the American working class. The role of his grandmother was played by Glenn Close.
With the support of former President Donald Trump, JD Vance - an Ohio boy who loves Kentucky - was elected senator. And two years later he ran for the Republican Vice President of the United States.
However, their relationship began completely differently, as he labeled Trump as an unacceptable person, claiming that he could never support him.
As a vice-presidential candidate, he is a faithful representative of Trump's policy.
"No, I think there were serious problems in 2020. Did Donald Trump lose the election? I wouldn't use those exact words," was Vance's response when asked if the former president was defeated in the 2020 election.
He advocates harsh views towards China and East Asia, opposes military aid to Ukraine, and expressed his views on the conflict between Israel and Hamas extremists on Voice of America questions.
"On the one hand, Kamala Harris claims to be concerned about civilian casualties. However, he refuses to hand over weapons to Israel that would minimize civilian casualties," said the Republican candidate for the US vice president.
His hometown overwhelmingly supports Donald Trump for President of the United States.
Steve Dilman hired Vance when he was a sixteen-year-old boy.
"I'm very proud of everything he's achieved. That's why I feel good myself. The man from here on McKinley Street could be the next American vice president", who hired him in his grocery store.
If elected, 40-year-old JD Vance will be the third youngest vice president in American history.
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