(TND) — Former President Donald Trump’s search for a running mate is coming down to the closing stretch with the national Republican convention kicking off on Monday in Wisconsin in a process his campaign has kept secretive while President Joe Biden continues to face questions from Democrats about the strength of his candidacy.
Trump has until July 15, when the Republican National Convention begins, to pick his running mate who will also becoming the party’s frontrunner for the 2028 nomination if they defeat Biden in November with the former president being term-limited.
The continued fallout of Biden’s disastrous debate performance has given Trump incentive to hold off on announcing a VP nominee to keep attention centered on the Democratic Party’s growing turmoil about whether the president should step down from the race. But the clock is ticking, and Trump has said he is still weighing his options.
“I haven’t made (a) final decision. But I have some ideas as to where we’re going,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity that aired Monday night. The former president also said that the speculation about whether Biden will drop out is a factor he is considering before announcing a choice.
Campaign officials and advisers have said they don’t know who Trump will choose and even possible selections have insisted they haven’t been asked and don’t have much information on the process.
"It's almost an embarrassment of riches that there are so many good people," Trump campaign senior adviser Jason Miller said on "Fox & Friends" Monday. "And what President Trump has said is that whoever he does pick needs to be able to step in and do the job on day one."
The leading candidates to be Trump’s running mate:
JD VANCE
The Ohio senator has been one of Trump’s most forceful allies in the Senate since winning his seat in the 2022 midterms. Vance rose to national prominence through the success of his memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy” and was initially highly skeptical of Trump and his agenda but has completed a complete turnaround and been vocal about his support for Trump’s foreign policy, trade and immigration policies.
Vance has been a frequent presence at Trump’s campaign stops, rallies and attended his trial in New York where he was convicted of 34 felonies for falsifying business records. If he were to be added to the ticket, he would also bring youth to a race that features the two oldest presidents in American history as he has not yet turned 40.
Vance was among the frontrunners who said he has not been asked to be Trump’s running mate yet in an appearance on “Meet the Press” on Sunday.
"I have not gotten the call, Kristen, and I'll certainly -- you know, maybe not the first person that I let know if that happened, but we'll let the media know if I ever get that call," Vance said. "But most importantly, Kristen, we're just trying to work to elect Donald Trump."
MARCO RUBIO
The Florida senator is another former Trump foe turned ally in the Senate who also holds sway and influence over the more establishment-oriented parts of the party. As the top Republican on the Senate intelligence committee, he is also an influential voice on matters of national security and foreign policy.
He is scheduled to appear with Trump at a rally on Tuesday near Miami, the former president’s first public appearance since the debate.
A potential hiccup for a Trump-Rubio ticket is that both men reside in Florida and one of them would need to move out of the state. Rubio is reportedly willing to change his residence to another state but would then be representing Florida without living there while running for the White House with Trump.
He told CNN on Sunday’s “State of the Union” that he hasn’t heard anything about vice presidential conversations.
“All I care about at this point and what I care about the most is that we can't afford another four years like the last four, and I'm willing to help in any way I can,” Rubio said. “But as far as making an announcement, that's up to him and their campaign.”
DOUG BURGUM
A two-term North Dakota governor went from a relative unknown to one of the leading choices to be Trump’s VP pick after his longshot primary challenge ended and he pivoted to being an active supporter of Trump.
Burgum has attended many fundraisers and events to stump for Trump and also attended his criminal trial in New York. He is also a wealthy businessman who is seen as having connections to other rich people that could help finance what is likely to be the most expensive presidential contest yet.
Along with financial connections, Burgum is also seen as having experience governing and could step in and be an effective president. However, there are questions about what he would add to the ticket as a relatively unknown governor of a small state who does not expand the potential electorate.
TIM SCOTT
Scott has long been considered a rising figure in national Republican politics and a frontrunner in Trump’s vice president search, frequently campaigning for Trump and receiving praise for his ability to act as a campaign surrogate.
The South Carolina senator challenged Trump for the 2024 nomination but generally stayed away from criticizing him and quickly endorsed him upon dropping out of the race. Scott also almost immediately went out on the campaign trail during primary season to advocate for Trump.
He is the only Black Republican in the Senate and would add diversity to the ticket along with a different approach. Scott frequently leans on his religious beliefs in political speeches and takes an optimistic outlook toward many of the issues facing the country.
Several GOP senators threw support behind Scott’s primary campaign and have continued to support him as a potential vice presidential selection.
ELISE STEFANIK
Trump’s campaign has appeared to move toward a male running mate in the closing stretch of the search but Stefanik has been among the women most mentioned as a potential choice. Stefanik, the No. 3 House Republican, rose to prominence defending Trump during his impeachment hearings and more recently for her excruciating grilling of university presidents over antisemitism on campus that resulted in several resignations.
Stefanik is one of his most vigorous allies in the House, announcing her endorsement of him before he had even officially announced he would run in 2024. She has said in various interviews that she would be honored to help in any way but has not been as publicly facing as some of the other contenders on the short list.
Along with the fierce loyalty to Trump and his agenda, Stefanik could be someone to help him sort out his weakness among suburban women, who have gravitated away from him in the last two cycles.
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