Jim Hartman
Donald Trump is publicly auditioning candidates to be his vice presidential running mate before the July 15 GOP National Convention deadline.
The biggest question is whether Trump wants to expand his base of supporters in making his VP candidate choice or nominate a MAGA echo.
An ardent MAGA booster, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem was an early frontrunner for the nod. That died when she boasted in a new campaign memoir about shooting and killing her 14-month-old hunting dog, Cricket.
“I hated that dog,” Noem wrote. Cricket had proved “untrainable” and “less than worthless.”
Why would Noem want this story in her book?
Her intent was to reach one important reader – Donald Trump. She wanted him to see her as a no-nonsense woman who identifies what’s needed and gets the job done.
It misfired. But it wasn’t the only story in the book that made news. Noem wrote about an encounter with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un that never happened.
“Puppygate” sunk Noem’s chances, but she had prior controversies including a weird video showing off her teeth to promote a Texas cosmetic dentistry company and a dispute with six Native American tribes who banned her from tribal lands.
South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, an African-American, is a serious contender. He’s been a notable Trump sycophant after pulling out of the race himself.
Scott quickly endorsed Trump over fellow South Carolinian Nikki Haley – even though Haley, while governor, gave him his Senate seat. He has effusively praised Trump.
In one memorable display, after Trump said to him, “You must really hate her,” referring to Haley, Scott blubbered, “I just really love you!”
Aligning with Trump, Scott has repeatedly refused to commit to accepting the outcome of the 2024 election.
Four Republican vice presidential prospects showed up at Trump’s criminal trial to demonstrate loyalty – Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Florida Rep. Byron Donalds and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy.
Upstate New York Rep. Elise Stefanik appears the current VP favorite among MAGA faithful.
To win in November, Trump needs to attract the swing voters who supported Haley in the primaries. They are still giving her 20% of the primary vote, long after she ended her campaign.
Haley won 21.8% of the Maryland GOP vote May 14 and 21.7% in Indiana a week earlier.
With her strong primary performance, Haley should be given top consideration as Trump’s running mate.
Haley did well in the debates. She has foreign policy experience and was a two-term governor of South Carolina. She would present a contrast in competence and seriousness to Vice President Kamala Harris.
Trump needs to win over the suburban, college-educated and women voters who cost him re-election in 2020. As a woman with strong views of her own, Haley would be a reassuring presence.
Trump has issued a statement saying Haley is out of the running. Her selection assumes Haley would accept. Trump knows he needs Haley’s voters to win.
Alternatively, to attract Haley voters Trump might turn to Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who has shown he can win and govern in a swing state, or pick Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who got universal school choice passed.
Former Congressman, CIA Director and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would be another respected candidate.
Trump should take a lesson from Ronald Reagan.
In 1980, Nancy Reagan tried unsuccessfully to persuade her husband to pick Nevada Sen. Paul Laxalt as his running mate. Nevada’s Laxalt and California’s Reagan were good friends from the mid-1960s when they were governors of neighboring states at the same time.
While Reagan initially resisted George H.W. Bush as his running mate, he was finally convinced choosing Bush would unify the party.
The Reagan-Bush ticket overwhelmingly defeated the Democratic tickets of Carter-Mondale in 1980 and Mondale-Ferraro in 1984.
Will a Trump-Haley ticket emerge in 2024?
E-mail Jim Hartman at lawdocman1@aol.com.