I live in the UK, but am following the US Presidential race with great interest (since it will undoubtedly affect the World.)
For purposes of this thread, please assume that Donald Trump wins the Republican nomination.
(If you want my opinion of that, here it is - but it’s not relevant to my question) I think Trump has said some dreadful stuff including lies e.g. our English police are afraid to enter parts of London. I don’t even know how serious he is about the Presidency - I thought he was running as usual for the publicity…
Who do you think he would choose as his VP?
(You’re welcome to make it dependent on who wins the Democrat nomination.)
If he wins the nomination, then the actual Republican party establishment will have to endorse and support him in what would have probably been a contentious party convention. During that convention process, I think it’s likely that Trump would have agreed to choose a VP that the party establishment finds at least somewhat acceptable – which means it could be a young Senator, or a governor, or someone like that. If he wins that means he’ll have savaged the other candidates so badly that it probably wouldn’t be one of them. I’d guess a swing state governor or senator, or possibly congressman.
He should choose by having a special episode of The Apprentice - VP. Using picks from his short list.
Seriously. Can you imaging the exposure? NBC would run it in a heartbeat, and probably give Trump a huge boost to funding the remainder of his campaign.
He could use base his candidates on the different groups he is looking for support from. Giving each lip service and consideration.
As said above, a strategic choice from another part of the country. All the nonsense about Trump now is from his campaign to win the Republican nomination. With that in hand he’ll be looking at a running mate with broader appeal. He doesn’t have a lot of options, the bad economy is hurting all state governors, and there are any good choices in the Senate. Paul Ryan is a possibility, middle American, currently Speaker of the House. Running against Sanders gives him more options, he might go with a well known successful businessman if he can find anyone who’s willing to do it. He would like to have a running mate if Hillary is the opposing candidate but I can’t think of one that would suit his purpose right now. Despite the talk about Sarah Palin she’s an established loser, and Alaska is not a big electoral get.
Scott Brown. He doesn’t really have a political career to risk any more. He may figure why not take a shot to get some ink in the papers and give him a leg up on the 2020 race. I don’t think Trump will have much of a stable to choose from, most Republicans will think joining the campaign is equivalent to boarding the Titanic.
I think Sarah Palin is a possibility. I am almost 100% certain it will not be a white guy - it will be someone who can claim to belong to at least one minority group.
It is. I’ve been sort of continually baffled by the consistent attempt by pretty much all the Republican candidates and their assorted groupies to assert otherwise. Do they really think Americans can’t remember eight years ago? Or is this one of these things we’ll stop hearing about once their nominee pivots to needing to appeal to a general election audience?
I think the question is, would the convention accept Trump’s choice without question? Then again, a vote to accept a Vice-Presidential nominee by acclamation is a voice vote, so anything even close to “aye” would be accepted.
That being said…what’s George H.W. Bush doing these days? I was going to mention Elizabeth Dole, but she’s 80.
I wouldn’t be surprised if it ended up being Cruz. Then again, when was the last time the Presidential race runner-up got the VP spot on the ticket? (Not 1980; John Anderson finished second.)
