In this episode of A Numbers Game, Ryan Girdusky sits down with veteran political journalist Mark Halperin for an in-depth look at the rapidly forming 2028 presidential election landscape.

Halperin breaks down the biggest question in Republican politics right now: Is JD Vance truly inevitable—or is the field more open than it seems? He explains why rising support for Marco Rubio, growing donor skepticism, and concerns about Vance’s political positioning could shake up what once looked like a locked nomination.

On the Democratic side, Halperin delivers a candid assessment of what he calls a “historically weak” field, analyzing potential contenders like Gavin Newsom, Josh Shapiro, Kamala Harris, and Pete Buttigieg—and why none have fully consolidated support. He also dives into the importance of voter coalitions, party divisions, and why the path to the nomination is far less predictable than past cycles.

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