Early appointments offer Vance chance to throw weight around as Trump's heir apparent

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

81% : "There is a want to land on somebody that everybody involved will be happy with, DeWine, Trump and JD.
71% : Trump picked hedge fund manager and Vance friend Scott Bessent as his treasury secretary after he donated millions to the presidential ticket.
59% : "It's pretty clear that he is in a pole position after Trump to help lead the party.
56% : But the dual conversations over appointments could offer early indications of how much Republicans listen when Vance speaks, even as someone's No. 2."He talks to [senators] a lot," said one source in Vance's orbit.
44% : "To be certain, Vance can only move the needle so far with Cabinet confirmations and Senate appointments, decisions that are up to a Senate looking for chances to assert its independence and a governor who has clashed with Trump but remained electorally viable.
42% : Trump was looking ahead," said Ohio GOP strategist Mike Hartley.
41% : There will also be tougher battles to come as the next administration works to muscle through its policy priorities, and Trump will still run the show as a dominant political figure who virtually blocks out the sun.
40% : The president-elect is famously wary of others enjoying too bright of a spotlight, and there could be other high-profile Republicans who are also anticipated to be power players after Trump leaves office, including Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Trump's pick to lead the State Department, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is rumored to be in the mix for Pentagon chief if Hegseth's nomination falls through.
39% : "Trump picked him for a specific reason, and that reason is to carry the mantle.
17% : "But at the end of the day, Vance will have a more elevated platform than any other Republican in the country except for one, and Trump enters office as a lame duck because of constitutional term limits, possibly leaving Vance well-positioned for a potential vacuum in a party dominated by Trump for nearly a decade.
15% : The decision is ultimately DeWine's, and there currently doesn't appear to be a favorite for the role, but sources said they would be surprised if the person was someone who rubbed Vance and Trump the wrong way.

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