Fox 19: Political science expert talks Vivek Ramaswamy’s rise
Despite other efforts, the polls still have Trump carrying the GOP nomination, says UC’s David Niven
During the GOP debate on Aug. 23, Vivek Ramaswamy introduced himself to the nation as an unknown – “a skinny guy with a funny last name.”
Ramaswamy, a Cincinnati native, born in Evendale, is a grad of St. Xavier High School. He went on to acheive prestigious degrees and great success in the corporte sector; a success that has funded most of his cross-country campaign to secure the GOP nomination for president, wtih his visabilty gaining traction.
David Niven, PhD, associate professor of political science in UC's School of Public and International Affairs. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand
“He has catapulted himself into relevance into this race, but it’s yet to be seen if he can take that next step which is to make himself an actual contender for this,” UC’s David Niven told Fox 19 prior to the debate.
Niven, an associate professor of political science, told Fox 19 that Ramaswamy has a “revolutionary” approach to traditional voting rights and that it will be interesting to see how voters respond.
Niven said: “Vivek Ramaswamy has honed his speaking skills both in the corporate world and in numerous media appearances in recent years, so he knows how to sell a message and the opportunity for voters tonight is to weigh whether they like that message. Whether they like that vision.”
Listen to Niven’s pre-debate analysis.
Photo: iStock/adamkaz
Impact Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.
Related Stories
Is a colonoscopy painful?
May 13, 2026
The University of Cincinnati's Susan Kais, MD, assistant professor of clinical medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology in the College of Medicine and UC Health gastroenterologist, recently appeared on the ARC Cincinnati morning program on Local 12/WKRC-TV to answer common questions from viewers about colonoscopies and to dispel myths.
Telescope captures information about lonely Jupiter-like gas giant
May 13, 2026
Science outlets highlight a University of Cincinnati student's collaborative discoveries about an exoplanet 901 light years away.
UC achieves first-in-world remission of aggressive pituitary tumor with novel immunotherapy
May 13, 2026
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati Gardner Neuroscience Institute’s Brain Tumor Center have been confirmed as the first in the world to achieve complete remission of a rare pituitary cancer using a novel immunotherapy treatment. The findings were published in Surgical Neurology International and recently featured in The Cancer Letter.