Hi-Tech Presidential Hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy Raps in Iowa

 One sentiment shared among voters in the lead up to the 2024 Presidential Election is the age of our frontrunners. 

“The Democratic and Republican frontrunners, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, are the oldest candidates running in the 2024 race.” USA Today reported

At less than half their age, Republican Presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy, 38, aims to capitalize on his youth. 

The pandering was in full swing at the Iowa State Fair, The Guardian Reported, as Ramaswamy grabbed the mic for a rendition of millennial rap icon Eminem’s “Lose Yourself.”  

“Wearing a red cap and a baggy white polo shirt, the millennial founder of a biotech company launched into a spirited rendition of Eminem’s Lose Yourself, as the governor of Iowa, Kim Reynolds, edged further and further towards the edge of their shared stage.”

Real Clear Politics has Ramaswamy polling in third place behind Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. 

The Guardian reported that Ramaswamy “would fire 75% of federal employees and abolish a raft of government agencies including the FBI, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – which handled much of the US response to the Covid-19 pandemic – and the Department of Education.” 

While these remain popular talking points among political commentators, Ramaswamy’s plan would be the most drastic cut to government agencies ever seen. He would find some sympathetic voices in the House if elected, with Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz. 

In March, Gaetz told a CPAC audience that "I don’t care if it takes every second of our time and every ounce of our energy, we either get this government back on our side or we defund and get rid of, abolish the FBI, the CDC, ATF, DOJ, every last one of them if they do not come to heel.” 

It follows the calls from former President Donald Trump to “drain the swamp,” and Ramaswamy echoes other campaign statements from Trump like his plans to “revive our national identity.”

The Guardian launches a list of hot potatoes at Ramaswamy including his stance on Juneteenth, Gender, Woke Politics, Affirmative Action, and Climate Change which panders to far right political commentators. 

“Born in Cincinnati, Ohio,” the Guardian Reports, “Ramaswamy studied at Harvard and Yale before becoming a venture capitalist and investing in pharmaceutical companies, some of which focused on pharmaceutical drug development. It has made him very wealthy – his net worth is in the hundreds of millions of dollars.”

Forbes reports further on Ramaswamy’s financial status:

“Ramawamy’s fortune stems from a drug-development company named Roivant Sciences, which went public in 2021. Its stock is up nearly 40% this year, boosting the value of Ramaswamy’s 10% stake to roughly $600 million. Since founding the company nine years ago, he has sucked over $260 million out of Roivant in the form of salary, bonuses and capital gains. He diversified those proceeds into a pretty standard investment portfolio, roughly 60% stocks and 40% bonds. But he also added some flavor, with a dash of Bitcoin and Ethereum, some shares of YouTube competitor Rumble and a stake in crypto payments firm MoonPay.”

ABC News reports that Ramaswamy only entered the race to boost his personal brand after a failed partnership with the Daily Wire.

“Some have claimed his campaign is a shadow effort to secretly help Trump stave off a challenge from DeSantis and breeze to the party's nomination -- a criticism that has gained traction given Ramaswamy's embrace of Trump on the campaign trail.

Others say his long-shot bid is simply an effort to elevate his profile by embracing Trump and his supporters.

According to sources who used to work closely with Ramaswamy, growing his brand in conservative media has long been a goal for the biotech millionaire.

"It's clear that he's been wanting to be famous for a long time," one person who previously advised Ramaswamy told ABC News.”

Looking ahead to the August 23rd debate on Fox News, will Ramaswamy have to answer for his claims in slashing government workers? Is he prepared to go toe to toe with a second place DeSantis? 

A report in the Hill said:

“A leaked debate memo drafted by the heads of the pro-Ron DeSantis super PAC Never Back Down details how they think the Florida governor should attack businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, calling for DeSantis to “take a sledgehammer” to his GOP rival.”

Ramaswamy pushed back in an X post:

“Another boring, establishment attack from Super PAC-creation “Robot Ron” who is literally taking lame, pre-programmed attack lines against me for next week’s debate. “Hammer Ramaswamy.”

While Ramaswamy can roll with the punches on social media and has found supporters with his charm in Ohio and New Hampshire, a live debate could see a takedown from DeSantis and Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

“We have a bunch of people running for president, many of whom are running because they’re cynical,” Christie told MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough. “Many of whom are running because they see a moment of opportunity where they night take advantage to give themselves power.”  

While Christie appears more subdued than in previous campaigns where he was polling higher, the heat of a debate could go poorly for the inexperienced Ramaswamy. 

Ramaswamy recently sat down with Bill Maher at Club Random for an appeal to the moderate voters was seen shirtless in an X post today, playing tennis. 

Ramaswamy’s endorsement from Iowa State Treasurer Roby Smith was a huge win for his campaign. 

“Vivek Ramaswamy is a businessman, a fiscal conservative, and a champion of the taxpayer. He shares my ideals and the ideals of many Iowa families and small business owners,” Smith said. 

Check back with The Wicksboro Report for presidential debate news

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