Absolutely. I can see the anticipation in Vance’s expressions as he watches Trump diminish each day. The one thing Vance does not have, and I think this is important, is a cult following. Some Trumpers I know here in Texas don’t even know who Vance is.
I agree he's likely a weaker leader. He's so uncharismatic not even a couch could love him. But he's animated by self-loathing. He's consciously chosen to be evil as a path to the status he craves, and thus his fascism is thoughtfully built to an unnatural rational consistency. And he HATES women.