Speaking during the Thursday, October 16 broadcast of his radio show, ESPN host Stephen A. Smith insisted that there is no Democratic presidential candidate who has a real chance of beating a potential Republican 2028 presidential ticket composed of Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
That came in response to a listener of Smith’s radio show asking the radio host and ESPN personality whether there is a Democratic lawmaker at present who has any real chance of beating a Vance-Rubio ticket, as right now the MAGA movement generally and those two figures in particular seem ascendant right now.
Responding tartly and simply, Smith said, “The answer would be no one. Not a damn soul.” Smith went on to insist that though there doesn’t seem to be anyone who has a real shot of winning, he does think that Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) is at least somewhat likable and should run. “Ossoff out of Georgia. I think that he — I like him. I like how he sounds. I do,” Smith told listeners.
For reference, Ossoff’s seat is one that is likely to end up back in Republican hands come the 2026 midterms, as it only went to Ossoff in 2026 thanks to the chaos and disaster that was the 2020 era and presidential race, and now that things are more settled and Republicans better organized, it is unlikely that the key Georgia senate seat will remain in Democrat hands.
In any case, Smith went on to explain why he thinks a Vance-Rubio deal would end up being so strong and valuable, noting that the major deal that Rubio has been involved in striking between Israel and Hamas, bringing an at least temporary end to that grinding war, has made Rubio exceedingly popular right now.
Making that point, Smith said, “But I gotta be honest with you. If this Israel-Hamas deal comes out to be more positive than anything else, I don’t think anybody’s going to be able to compete with Marco Rubio, who Trump called maybe the greatest secretary of state in American history.” Further praising Rubio, Smith added, “Marco Rubio gets things done . . . He is no joke. I put him above Vice President Vance, I can tell you that much.”
Watch Smith here:
Adding to the chances of the GOP remaining ascendant is that Republicans have moved to redistrict in their states, erasing numerous Democratic seats in the process. Praising North Carolina for doing so in a post on Truth Social, President Trump said, “Thank you to North Carolina’s incredible Republican State Legislators, who just introduced a new, fair, and improved, Congressional Map, a situation I am watching, and strongly supporting, very closely. It was my Great Honor to win North Carolina six times, including Primaries, in 2016, 2020, and 2024, and this new Map would give the fantastic people of North Carolina the opportunity to elect an additional MAGA Republican in the 2026 Midterm Elections, which would be A HUGE VICTORY for our America First Agenda, not just in North Carolina, but across our Nation.”
He added, “Remember, I won the Electoral College, 312-226, Counties Nationwide, 2,700 to 525, all seven Swing States (A LANDSLIDE!), and now I have the best Polling Numbers I’ve ever had. Our Party has never been more UNITED, and we are getting so much done for the American People because of it. Therefore, I encourage all of my Republican friends in the North Carolina Legislature to work as hard as they can to pass this new Map so that we can continue our incredible Record of SUCCESS. It is wonderful to see Republicans in “The Tar Heel State” standing up to Save our Country and, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. THANK YOU NORTH CAROLINA — MAGA2026!”
