In a fiery and unscripted moment outside the US Capitol, progressive firebrand Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez declared she would "stomp" Vice President JD Vance in a potential 2028 presidential face-off. This bold statement came as a direct response to a newly released poll showing her holding a narrow lead over the Republican Vice President.
The Poll That Sparked the Firestorm
The remark was triggered by the release of a Verasight poll conducted in mid-December 2025. The survey, which interviewed roughly 1,500 likely voters, found Ocasio-Cortez leading Vance by 51 per cent to 49 per cent. Given the poll's margin of error of plus or minus 2.7 percentage points, the result is effectively a statistical tie, highlighting a deeply divided electorate in this very early and hypothetical matchup.
AOC's Cautious Yet Combative Reaction
When questioned by a reporter about the poll results, Ocasio-Cortez initially urged caution, noting that early surveys conducted years before an election offer only a limited snapshot of public opinion. However, she quickly pivoted to a more confrontational tone, stating for the record, "But let the record show, I would stomp him." This brief clip from the exchange rapidly went viral on social media platforms, dominating online political discussion.
Earlier that same day, the Congresswoman had already drawn attention to the poll by reposting the results on the social media platform X with the playful caption "Bloop!". This action helped fuel the rapid spread of the subsequent video and intensified speculation about potential contenders for the 2028 presidential race, despite neither figure having announced any intention to run.
Scrutiny and the Long Road to 2028
The poll's release did not come without scrutiny. Political commentators and analysts were quick to question the reliability of such early head-to-head matchups, pointing out the significant challenges in measuring voter preferences so far in advance of an election. Many emphasized that the extremely narrow margin means the result should be interpreted with great caution, serving more as a curiosity than a prediction.
Nevertheless, the episode has successfully ignited early conversations about the future of both the Democratic and Republican parties. It underscores the high-profile, polarizing nature of both Ocasio-Cortez and Vance, setting the stage for what could be a defining political clash later in the decade. The viral "stomp" comment ensures this hypothetical race will remain a topic of intense debate and analysis in the coming years.
