Before former President Donald Trump takes the stage at the Republican National Convention in July in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he has an important choice to make that could impact the GOP’s direction and the outcome of the election: selecting his running mate.
A recent Bloomberg report offers insights into the top candidates for this role, revealing that wealthy donors are assessing potential VP picks at high-end fundraisers in Palm Beach, Florida. Sources close to Trump’s campaign suggest that the list has been narrowed to Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota, Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, and Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina.
These four leading contenders bring significant experience in politics and public service, and their presence could be instrumental as Trump navigates a Manhattan courtroom. Each of them has a proven track record in statewide or national campaigns, with three having previously run for president. J.D. Vance appears to be the closest to Trump’s America First ideals, which is crucial given Trump’s potential limitation to one more term in office.
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This weekend, these frontrunners will seek to gain support during a three-day donor retreat at the luxurious Four Seasons in Palm Beach. But they won’t be the only ones competing for attention. Other possible VP candidates, including Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota, Representative Byron Donalds of Florida, and Representative Elise Stefanik of New York, will also be there, adding to the competition.
While the donors assess the candidates, grassroots Republicans have already shared their preferences. In a CPAC straw poll conducted earlier this year, 15% of attendees favored Vivek Ramaswamy of Ohio, 15% supported Noem, 9% backed Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, 8% chose Stefanik, and the rest of the votes were spread across other candidates, including Scott, Donalds, Kari Lake, Ron DeSantis, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and Ben Carson.
Trump has kept his choice for VP under wraps, indicating to a Michigan television station that he’s not yet focused on it. “We’ll be making that decision, I think, closer to Wisconsin time,” he said. Although Trump hasn’t begun formal meetings with contenders, it’s expected that he will announce his running mate by July.
With court appearances ahead, Trump’s choice for VP will need to energetically advocate for his reelection and keep the campaign’s momentum strong. Whoever he selects will play a key role in convincing the American people that Trump deserves a second term in the White House.
