Who’s going to be the lucky sidekick for Trump’s second MAGA presidential run? The speculation for Trump’s VP choice is hitting a fever pitch as the Republican National Convention gets closer and closer.
The usual suspects.
In the latest episode of “Who Wants to Be Trump’s Vice President?” we have a lineup that reads like a political reality TV show. However, according to a recent Daily Mail poll [1], Senator Tim Scott is leading the pack with 13% of the vote, making him the front-runner for the role of Trump’s right-hand man.
Scott, the only Black Republican in the Senate, seems to be the fan favorite, with Senator Marco Rubio and former neurosurgeon-turned-politician Ben Carson both on Scott’s heels, each pulling in 12% of the vote.
JD Vance, the author-turned-Senator who has became a MAGA darling, and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum are barely registering with 4% each. Ouch. It looks like name recognition isn’t doing Burgum any favors, despite his rumored bromance with Trump. And let’s be honest, what would be the advantage of Trump picking another white guy for the ticket? Just sayin’…
The speculation game.
Speculation about Trump’s VP pick reached a crescendo in late June when the former president hinted that he’d already made his decision. Of course, he has kept everyone in suspense, much to the dismay of his supporters.
Trump’s camp has been tight-lipped, focusing instead on President Joe Biden’s flubs and the growing Democratic anxiety over whether Biden can stick it out much longer as the presidential candidate – or the president.
Jason Miller, Trump’s campaign adviser, teased that an announcement on Trump’s VP pick could come any day now. Or not until the National Republican Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin which starts on July 15th.
The puppet masters.
Behind the scenes, the puppet masters are hard at work. Steve Bannon, the former White House chief strategist who reported to federal prison on Monday, July 1st, is championing Doug Burgum as a “safe pair of hands.”
Meanwhile, Trump’s eldest son, Don Jr., and conservative activist Charlie Kirk are all-in for Vance, pushing him as the grassroots hero.
And then there’s Kellyanne Conway, ever the pollster, who argues that Rubio would attract crucial demographic groups to the Trump coalition.
The Trump card.
At the end of the day, the only opinion that really matters is Trump’s. His campaign senior adviser, Brian Hughes, put it bluntly: “Anyone telling you they know who or when President Trump will choose his VP is lying unless that person is named Donald J. Trump.”
So, as we wait with bated breath, one thing is certain: Trump’s VP pick will be revealed with the fanfare of a grand finale, keeping his supporters and critics alike on the edge of their seats.