Secretary of State Marco Rubio performs slightly better than Vice President J.D. Vance in multiple hypothetical 2028 presidential matchups against Democratic candidates, according to a new survey conducted by Emerson College and The Hill. In five head-to-head scenarios against Democrats, Rubio is ahead in all but one matchup, while Vance trails or performs worse in the others.
The poll tests several Democratic figures, including Pete Buttigieg, and compares relative support for Rubio versus Vance in each pairing. While the outlets both describe the same overall result—that Rubio edges out Vance in most simulated matchups—the reporting also reflects different emphasis. The Hill focuses on Rubio’s relative performance across the series of hypothetical contests, while the New York Post highlights political context around former President Donald Trump’s comments suggesting Rubio and Vance could run together as a “dream team.”
