- Ramaswamy faced a voter in Alabama on Tuesday who argued he wasn’t performing better in polls because of his “likeability.”
- “There is a time and a place for everything…The true mark of a good leader is one who understands the moment and is able to execute.”
- Coming the night before the fourth Republican presidential debate
Vivek Ramaswamy refuted an Alabama voter who was suspicious of his “likeability” by claiming his softer side might not come out on the debate stage if he was forced to go on the offensive.
The 2024 contender said that “telling the truth” might make some people “uncomfortable” after an attendee at a pre-debate reception in Birmingham, Alabama, said he was no Ronald Reagan.
“My strategy in this race is: I would rather tell the truth and lose an election than win by playing a few carefully threaded snakes and ladders,” he told a room full of Alabama Republicans.
Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and father of two, was the only candidate to hold an event in Alabama the evening before the fourth Republican presidential debate on Wednesday.
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy faced a voter in Alabama on Tuesday who argued he wasn’t performing better in polls because of his “likeability.” But the biotech entrepreneur said: “There is a time and a place for everything…The true mark of a good leader is someone who understands the moment and is able to execute.”
He qualified to take the stage and join Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie at the University of Alabama’s Frank Moody Music Building in Tuscaloosa, Alabama , to debate.
Ramaswamy gathered at an Alabama GOP event and took a few questions from the audience after his speech at the swanky Marriott Renaissance Ross Bridge Resort & Spa in Birmingham.
One attendee said, “Ronald Reagan was a great communicator, and if he were here he would probably agree with your policies 98 percent of the time.” But he was able to bridge the gap – he was super personable.”
“Is there a possibility? Part of your problem in the polls is the likeability factor and the charisma factor. Is there a way to incorporate Ronald Reagan’s exploits into your playbook? asked the man from Alabama.
The Republican candidate responded: “There is a time and a place for everything…The true mark of a good leader is one who is able to understand the current situation and implement it.”
“I think it’s also important to know that we have a president in office who tells the truth unvarnished – not just when it’s easy, but also when it’s difficult,” he added.
“And sometimes that truth makes us uncomfortable.”
Ramaswamy, 38, gave his trademark short speech, pointing out that Republicans need to be prepared for a next-generation leader and railing against “woke ideologies” on the left.
The voter (far right) asked Ramaswamy, “Part of your problem in the polls is the likeability factor and the charisma factor.” Is there a way to incorporate Ronald Reagan’s exploits into your playbook?
With just six weeks until the Iowa caucuses, Ramaswamy is in fourth place in polls behind front-runners Donald Trump, DeSantis and Haley.
Some, like the Alabama voter Tuesday night, think his “likeability” has to do with his place in the polls – and not his policies and program.
“I appreciate that,” the 2024 hopeful told the audience when his charisma was questioned.
“If you want someone who will shut down the deep state, truly confront corruption and speak truth to power, then vote for someone who will tell you the truth,” he added.
“There’s an old saying that says: If you care about someone, you tell them the truth. If you care about yourself, you tell him what he wants to hear.” “I don’t tell people what they want to hear.”
Just an hour from his debate site on Wednesday, several hundred members of the Alabama Republican Party could be seen nodding their heads at Ramaswamy’s comments.
“There is a time and a place for everything – tomorrow night is a debate period,” Ramaswamy noted. “We’re in the middle of a race and there are some deep differences in this party.” And I don’t plan on playing with kid gloves. And you shouldn’t want people who are allowed to run for the office of US president – i.e. who are allowed to sit across from Xi Jinping – to be trained to play with kid gloves.”
“I think we want to know if someone is going to be able to fight to represent this country.”
“That doesn’t mean that’s the only attitude we want in a leader,” he said, turning his attention back to the man who had asked the question.
“And I appreciate your comment and answer about as openly as you asked this question, which I really appreciate. ‘Thanks, my man.’