by Stephen Kruiser
After the last few years, political predictions are dumber than ever, and I have sworn off them. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t speculate about what appears obvious.
Barring an act of God or the Democrats’ perversion of the justice system, Donald Trump seems to be on a glide path to the Republican nomination for president. Even for those who are risk-averse, this appears to be a safe bet. If we’re looking at Trump’s position now compared to 2016, prognosticating is almost like playing with house money.
One of the few exciting things about the primaries for the party not in the White House is trying to figure out who the nominee’s running mate might be. The presumptive nominee and former president of the United States says he knows.
While it is true that anything can happen, Donald Trump has maintained a solid lead in the GOP primary polls and is easily favored to win the Republican Party presidential nomination. Even before he officially announced his candidacy, there has been speculation as to whom he might choose as a running mate. One thing that was obvious is that it wouldn’t be Mike Pence, who went on to run for president himself, though his campaign lasted less than six months.
In the past, we’ve heard several names floated. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y), Kari Lake (R-Ariz.), former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) were all under consideration at one point. But who is Trump planning to pick as his running mate, assuming he does win the nomination? Trump was asked about this during his Fox News town hall Wednesday evening with Martha MacCallum and Bret Baier.
“Who would be in the running for a vice president?” MacCallum asked.
“Well, I can’t tell you that, really,” Trump said before adding. “I mean, I know who it’s going to be.”
Why, Donald, you absolute tease.
Trump’s statement can be taken one of two ways.
The first would be that he knows who he wants to be his running mate and that his overwhelming ego assumes that he or she will gladly sign onto the ticket. This person has not yet been contacted by Team Trump because the boss keeps telling them that it’s a done deal once he gets on the phone (not an unreasonable assumption, by the way).
The second is that Trump has already sealed the deal with a running mate and is slow-playing it. It’s not outlandish to think that one of the most successful people in the history of reality television might want to heighten the anticipation for dramatic effect. The man does make politics interesting.
I have spent some time thinking about Trump’s potential running mates, and I’m not gonna lie: I can’t figure out the best fit. Trump has been very vocal about loyalty, which is most understandable when so many alleged and former confidantes have turned away.
Conventional wisdom dictates that the running mate is from a state the nominee needs to win. Since Donald Trump’s victory in 2016, however, conventional wisdom regarding United States presidential elections has been almost nonexistent. The talent pool for this metric is also quite small when you factor in that he needs Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan to upset the Magic Mail-In Ballot Machine apple cart.
Trump’s loyalty litmus test has no doubt ruled out a lot of people. In elections past, contentious primary opponents could get over whatever acrimony there was in the primaries and move forward together for the general election. Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush are perfect examples of this. As we are all aware, however, 1980 acrimony and 2024 acrimony are two very different things.
Until recently, Nikki Haley has been mentioned as a very likely running mate for Trump. She was never a good fit but is almost certainly out of the running since Trump and the Truth Social cheerleaders began promoting an insane Haley birther theory.
Here’s a crazy thought that would drive Democrats even more crazy; what about Tulsi Gabbard? I doubt she’d consider it and I doubt Trump would pick her, but wouldn’t that cause leftist heads to explode?
Well, we do know as of last night that he knows who it is he will pick. I can assure everyone it will not be birdbrain neocon Nikki.
It will be someone who closely identifies with the MAGA movement and of course,President Trump. It will not surprise or shock me if it is a non politician.
I do not think it will be Kari Lake. She is on track to win the senate seat and will be a valuable asset to add to the conservative republican side of the senate.
I had assumed that Trump had been mulling possible running mates, but his saying that he knows who it will be just convinces me that he hasn’t yet given it any thought at all.
Well, that makes sense… for a leftist.
Loser Trump will leave the GOP in ruins.
Yet Biden is doing wonders for the Democrats. He’s as popular as fart in a crowded elevator.
https://nypost.com/2024/01/12/news/bill-ackman-to-form-a-think-tank-to-probe-higher-education/
There. Fixed it all up.
That bit just gets better and better every time you do it!
Have you seen anything Robin Ware/Robert L. Peters/JRB Ware/Pedo Peter/idiot Biden hasn’t ruined?
Good the GOP deserves to be as de-skunked as the deepstate.
Whomever Trump picks must be a MAGA Republican. He will be the presumptive “heir” to the MAGA movement. But still big enough to let Trump continue being the ideological Godfather and patriarch of the Party and be ready to take the reins should Trump pass away. Believe it, or not, Tulsi Gabbard might fit there. Possibly Kari Lake. Marjorie Taylor Green may end up being it. They’re all women and could impact that demographic.
Allan West and Tim Scott are both decent outstanding men and good candidates. West may be more MAGA than Scott.
I’m going to guess it will be Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
She’s proven loyal.
She’s from a political conservative dynasty.
She’s been a successful governor for a few years, too.
Still pulling for General Flynn they were scared of him the first term this one more than a few will be skipping the country.
Gen. Flynn would be a true kick in the gut to the left. If they fear “retribution”, they could then fear they guy with the information to get it done. Ha!
General Flynn would be outstanding. But, would not a better use of his skills to put him back where he was before Benedict pence colluded with the FBI to toss him out?
That might be a gut shot on the administrative state.
Gen. Flynn would be outstanding on several levels. He knows the swamp, he has an ax to grind, so he will pursue the deep state and I always love a good old poke in the leftist’s eye.
Flynn would know who could be trusted or at least competent in his place before the betrayal. This country does not need diversity hires ie a female as possible replacement if something happens to Trump, they need to be scared to assassinate or impeach lest his replacement get the wheel.
The very thought should make them tremble and piss themselves.
Insurance policy. biden for obama and harris for biden. pence was never that person.
Oh they wanted Pence as CIC and it glowed.
This is’nt about revenge this is about who would be the Best second for an 80 year old President, anything could happen. Melania is wonderful but No Nancy Reagan. Sweet Sarah is nice, can make pies and stuff but Presidential material? Thats cotton vs kevlar guys.
With candidates like Robin Ware/Robert L. Peters/JRB Ware/Pedo Peter/idiot Biden, Kamala and the destructive, ruinous policies of the Democrats, EVERYTHING makes them piss themselves.
Dang… that’s one I haven’t heard and it makes great sense.
She is pure MAGA and is a firebrand. Love it.
Nearly half of Haley’s supporters polled said would vote for Biden before Trump.
NO BODY is voting for Robin Ware/Robert L. Peters/JRB Ware/Pedo Peter/idiot Biden. Just like last time.
Is that hyperbole, or do you honestly believe that Biden will get zero votes? I can’t tell with you.
I hear the copy machines are still behind him, 1,000%.
He will be lucky to get somewhere north of 15 million votes. He will it get more than 20 million votes. There is zero enthusiasm for biden.
You mean just like last time.
Given that she’s Mitt Romney in a dress, and Mitt has said he’d vote for joe over Trump, makes sense.
The RCP national poll average spread in a Trump v. Biden match is now slightly over 1%. Haley’s never-Trump 50% alone would be enough to give the election to Biden.
CLING to them straws! They won’t hold you up as long as Democrats are the disastrous failures they are.