Volkswacht Bodensee - Vance assails Democratic 'hatred' in fiery US midterm pitch

The 42-year-old vice president was greeted by a huge roar and chants of "JD! JD!" as he took the stage at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.

"This fall, the Democrats are running candidates who will tell your children what they're allowed to say, how they're allowed to live, and, importantly, who they ought to hate," Vance said.

"The Democrats are the party of hatred. They're the party that despises America and the people who built it. They're the party that can find sympathy for the terrorists who perpetrated 9/11," he added

Trump returned to the stage after Vance and immediately praised his vice president.

"I want to thank our great vice president. What a job he did tonight!" Trump said. "You know, the Democrats are getting nervous."

The president promised to be brief before introducing a convention-closing music set, saying: "I'm getting a little tired of politics now."

But he reprised familiar rally lines, attacking "radical left" Democrats and again making himself the centerpiece of the Republican midterm campaign.

"I'm not on the ticket. You got to pretend I'm on the ticket," Trump told supporters.

"You got to do me the biggest favor you've ever done me. You've got to do this for me. You've got to pretend I'm on the ticket."

Republicans head into November under heavy electoral pressure.

US election tracking site Decision Desk HQ projects Democrats will win the House 229-206 and has the Senate on a knife-edge at 50-50. Trump's approval rating has languished in the low-to-mid 30s amid stubborn inflation and an unpopular war with Iran.

Trump also repeated his extraordinary promise from Wednesday to pay every American adult a $5,000 "Trump dividend" if Republicans retain both chambers of Congress.

- Family and future -

Vance, meanwhile, sought to sharpen a convention-long portrayal of Democrats as extremists, arguing that disagreements within the Republican coalition were minor compared with what he called the rhetoric of the "far left."

Family and fatherhood were recurring themes as Vance sought to contrast what he described as traditional values with the political left, adding "we got to send their asses packing in November."

He also paid tribute to conservative youth activist Charlie Kirk on the first anniversary of his killing, addressing Kirk's young children directly.

"History will record that your father was a great man," Vance said.

He recalled Kirk's particular appeal to young men, saying the activist believed there was "no greater calling for a young man" than falling in love, starting a family and becoming a father.

Vance also accused political opponents of attacking the traditional family.

"To the radicals who wish to abolish my family and the thousands and millions of other families all across our country, we have a simple message for them: stay the hell away from our kids."

His speech was briefly interrupted by a protester waving a Mexican flag and shouting from the crowd.

"Well, my friend, if you love Mexico so much, get your ass over there," Vance responded. "I'll buy you the plane ticket."

Vance is widely regarded as an early front-runner for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, although he has said he will not make a decision until after the midterms.

His appearance immediately before Trump's closing remarks gave him one of the convention's most prominent speaking slots as Republicans begin to consider their post-Trump future.

- High-stakes gamble -

The convention resembled an extended Trump rally more than a traditional party meeting, with no nominations or formal business and more than 50 speakers or presentations each night.

Organizers said 20,000 spectators attended Wednesday's opening day -- close to capacity for the arena, which had conspicuous gaps in the crowd during parts of Trump's speech.

The central Republican gamble remains whether Trump can mobilize voters personally loyal to him even when he is not actually running, without further alienating independents who have soured on his presidency.

Vance's appearance added the longer-term question of whether one of Trump's potential successors can eventually inherit the political coalition he built.

"I'm not asking you to agree with every policy of our administration," Vance told the crowd.

"I'm asking you to recognize the contrast with the radicals, and the achievements of the last 18 months."

T.Egger--VB