'Tremendous opportunity': Analyst urges Harris to run with J.D. Vance's fumble

Sen. J.D. Vance just made a campaign fumble — dropping a ball the Democratic presidential nominee should pick up and run with, according to a new political analysis.

Former President Donald Trump's running mate's attempt to fill in the gaps of his "concept of a plan" to replace the Affordable Care Act included an unpopular policy his political foes should jump to disavow, MSNBC opinion writer James Downie wrote Monday.

"Vance confirmed that Trump wants to revive one of the worst aspects of American health care before the Affordable Care Act," Downie wrote, "bringing health care into the election — and presenting a tremendous opportunity to Vice President Kamala Harris."

Vance last Sunday told NBC News that Trump's concept was to pursue deregulation of the healthcare market which he argued would lower costs for the young and healthy.

A Trump campaign spokesperson later confirmed to Semafor that the former president and Vance were "broadly aligned" when it came to this heath care policy, which Vance reiterated in North Carolina the same day, Downie reported.

Downie then showcased what he describes as the quiet downside of Vance's plan — by deregulating the market it would increase costs significantly for the old and sick, as millions of Americans experienced before the ACA passed.

"Millions more were stuck with plans that were either incredibly expensive or provided little actual coverage — or both," wrote Downie.

"Americans don’t want to go back to the pre-ACA system."

ALSO READ: Inside Trump and Johnson's shocking new bid to suppress women's votes

Data show more than 60% of Americans now hold a favorable view of the ACA in general and pre-existing condition protections in particular, Downie wrote.

It's popular even among Republicans, whom Downie argues may find themselves aligned with Harris' campaign message.

"This proposal to go back to the days before the ACA is a gift to the vice president, who has made 'not going back' a mantra of her campaign," Downie concluded.

"The groundwork for the next great, overdue reform of American health care starts now."