The public is getting ever closer to finding out who former President Donald Trump will choose as his running mate in the upcoming presidential election. With talk among Democrats of replacing President Joe Biden, this announcement is sure to cause quite a stir.
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Team Trump has reportedly narrowed down the field of vice presidential candidates to only three contenders and plans to make the announcement by July 15, which is the first day of the Republican National Convention, according to The Washington Post.
Trump has not communicated his choice, the people familiar with the situation said, but discussions inside the campaign have narrowed in on Sens. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum is also in the mix, and Trump, who has a habit of changing his mind, was privately discussing other names as recently as the last week, according to the people with knowledge of the situation. Like others interviewed for this story, the people spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private talks.
Trump has two rallies scheduled this upcoming week: One on Tuesday in Miami, Florida and the other on Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump has publicly said he would name his vice-presidential pick at the convention. The nomination is expected to take place July 15 under convention protocol, according to two of the people with knowledge of the situation. The vice-presidential pick is slated to speak on Wednesday, July 17.
The former president’s running mate choice is one of the most closely watched decisions of his campaign. Trump said in June that he had decided on his vice-presidential pick but hadn’t told the person yet.
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Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) told The Post that picking a running mate “is a very personal thing for the president” and affirmed that the role of vice president “is to basically support the president’s policies and be an advocate for what he wants.”
Previously, Team Trump was considering Sens. Tim Scott (R-SC) and Tom Cotton (R-AK), along with Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Byron Donalds (R-FL).
This decision could have significant ramifications for the Republican Party as Trump will only serve one more term if he wins in November. His selection could determine who takes up the mantle of GOP leadership going forward, which means the decision will have an impact beyond simply winning the upcoming election.
There has already been much speculation about each of the three candidates.
“Doug Burgum is the choice if you’re worried about governing,” said Brad Todd, a Republican strategist. “J.D. Vance is the candidate if you think you’re going to win no matter what and you’re trying to shape the party going forward. Marco Rubio is the candidate you pick if you’re worried about winning the election.”
This revelation comes as much of the news cycle is focused on President Biden and the fallout from the presidential debate. Democrats are currently discussing the next step forward and whether replacing Biden at this juncture is the best move.
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Meanwhile, polling shows that the president’s performance has caused a significant level of damage to his chances of winning a second term. Trump’s lead over the president has grown considerably since the debate, and his choice of vice president could widen the gap even further, especially if Biden’s team is unable to craft a messaging strategy that will reassure voters about his age and cognitive abilities.