The shifting allegiance of blue-collar workers to Donald Trump's Republican Party has strong parallels for the coalition in Australia, shadow treasurer Angus Taylor says.
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One week on from an attempted assassination of the former US president, Mr Trump was back campaigning at a rally in the swing state of Michigan.
Earlier in the week, Mr Trump unveiled Ohio Senator JD Vance as his running mate, which is being interpreted as an attempt to win over more working-class American voters.
Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor says there are similarities with conservative parties in Australia that could improve their electoral fortunes.
"(JD Vance's) nomination as the vice-presidential candidate is all about reviving the American dream and I don't think our dream here is so different," he told Sky News on Sunday.
"It is about being able to get ahead, being able to come from nothing, and to be able to create opportunities from life.
"It was an inspired choice by Donald Trump and his team, and I do think there are strong parallels here in Australia."
Mr Vance had come under fire for urging the US not to fund military action in Ukraine against invading Russian forces.
Independent MP Zoe Daniel said America's withdrawing support for Ukraine would be disastrous.
"It's really concerning from a broader geopolitical point of view," she told ABC's Insiders program.
"If the Americans, in effect, dump Ukraine, and that gives the Russians open entry into Ukraine, what does that mean for the rest of Europe?"
It comes as US President Joe Biden is under mounting pressure from his own party to step down from running in November's presidential election.
Ms Daniel, who was a journalist in the US before making the move into politics, said Mr Trump had the edge over his opponent.
"Anyone who's observing this would say (Biden) can't win, I think the chances of him winning are next to nil," she said.
"The thing is, who do (the Democrats) put in now who can beat Trump on the time frame that you have, and I don't think the Democrats can win it, Biden or no Biden."
Assistant Energy Minister Jenny McAllister said the federal government would work closely alongside whoever won the presidential election.
"We've seen governments of both flavours in Australia work with administrations of both flavours in the United States. It's a core partnership for us. It's an important one," she told Sky News.
"We'll always advocate for our interests but I think we can always be confident that the reception to that advocacy will be in a context of respect and trust, because there is deep respect and trust between our two countries."
Ms Daniel said Australia, and the federal government, needed top be prepared for a potential second Trump presidency.
"All the normal pathways for media, for diplomats, for governments (in his first term) no longer existed, and there was a reinvention that was required," she said.
"The only thing that's predictable about Donald Trump is his unpredictability, and we have to just go into it knowing that and accept that things will be different."
Australian Associated Press
