WITH the Republican National Convention less than six weeks away, the Trump campaign has begun the process of vetting vice presidential contenders, including those who once ran against him for the party nomination in 2016 and 2020.
Here are the pros and cons of each of the potential candidates as the former president’s running mate.
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)
Trump once dubbed Rubio “Little Marco” during the 2016 presidential campaign. Rubio, now 53, was a political novice on the national stage eight years ago but has since shown in interviews and on the Senate floor to possess confidence and conviction.
Rubio, whose parents immigrated from Cuba to the US in 1956 during the Cuban Revolution, could help Trump attract more Hispanic/Latino voters while setting up the Republican Party to win in 2028 as the GOP nominee if Trump wins and has a successful second term.
Chances of being selected on a scale of 1-10: 8
Senator JD Vance
The freshman Ohio senator is beloved by MAGA loyalists despite Vance being highly critical of Trump during the 2016 campaign. A military veteran, he appeals to working-class voters in key midwest states including Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
As far as alignment with Trump, Vance fits the bill when it comes to opposition to US funding the Russia-Ukraine war and advocating Trump’s border policies including wall construction. Vance also is the kind of pitbull in interviews and in sharply criticizing the Biden-Harris administration that every vice presidential candidate needs to be.
Two questions: Could Vance, who has only served as an elected official for less than two years, be seen as presidential material in 2028? And while he energizes Trump’s core supporters, can he bring in independent and suburban female voters the campaign needs to win?
Chances of being selected on a scale of 1-10: 5
Senator Tim Scott (R-SC)
Currently, the odds-on favorite to be Trump’s choice, Scott is the only Black lawmaker — Republican or Democrat — to serve in both Congress and the Senate. Scott’s obvious attraction is not only his boundless optimism, experience, and likability by even some Democratic voters but also that he can attract more Black voters into the Trump tent.
The downside for Scott is that he may be too soft. Trump values two things more: Loyalty and street fighters not afraid who aren’t reticent in mixing it up with his opponents and the media. And as Scott showed when running against Trump in this election cycle, he was almost invisible on the debate stage. But in a campaign often surrounded by chaos, Scott could be seen as a normalizing, calming presence.
Chances of being selected on a scale of 1-10: 8.5
Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL)
Another pitbull in the same mold as Vance, Donalds also knows how to take and throw rhetorical punches. A potential VP debate with Kamala Harris would be a disaster for the current vice president. And he too could appeal to Black voters and certainly is embraced by the MAGA base.
Downside: He’s only been in Congress for three years and may not be seen as presidential material. Could he serve in the Trump administration as an economic adviser given his previous career as a portfolio manager and financial adviser? Yes. As vice president? Doubtful, but Trump has never been known to be predictable.
Chances of being selected on a scale of 1-10: 2
Dr. Ben Carson
Carson too is adored by the MAGA base and served in the Trump administration as HUD Secretary. The soft-spoken former surgeon may be too soft-spoken, however, and may not bring the fire Trump loves in a debate against Kamala Harris. Carson is probably the biggest longshot on this list.
Chances of being selected on a scale of 1-10: 0.5
Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY)
At age 30, she was elected to Congress in 2014, making her the youngest woman ever elected to the chamber. Completely unwavering in her loyalty to Trump, she’s also the only female on this list, which could obviously serve in reaching out to soccer moms in key swing states.
Downside: A Harvard-Harris poll out this week shows that of potential VP choices, Stefanik turns off voters the most. The poll asked if the choice of a certain VP would make those surveyed more likely to vote for Trump minus less likely. Here’s the result when looking at those only on the shortlist:
Tim Scott: +6
Burgum: -6
Stefanik: -11
Stefanik also may be seen as too young for the job (age 39).
Chances of being selected on a scale of 1-10: 1.5
Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR)
Stoic and no-nonsense as a decorated former Army Ranger who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, Cotton is absolutely future presidential material. He was one of the first major politicians to openly question the source of the novel coronavirus in 2020 along with Trump and was labeled a conspiracy theorist by several media outlets for doing so.
Downside: None, except as a staunch conservative, he may not appeal as much to independents in the states Trump needs to win.
Chance of being selected on a scale of 1-10: 6
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum
The former businessman who sold his tech company to Microsoft back in the 80s for $1.1 billion, Burgum is currently the wealthiest governor in the country. And he raised eyebrows by speaking at Donald Trump’s rally in Wildwood, New Jersey, before an estimated 100,000 people last month, the only person on this list to do so.
Burgum comes with no baggage, a highly successful track record in the private sector, and a disapproval rating in North Dakota as governor of just 26%. He may not be electric on the campaign trail, but Trump may not want a candidate who outshines him on that front. Burgum is your clear dark horse here.
Chance of being selected on a scale of 1-10: 8
Of course, Trump could be deepfaking everyone with this vetting list and could end up picking someone like Tulsi Gabbard, who ran for the Democratic nomination in 2020 but has since left the party. Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida is also a possibility, as is Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.
Either way, we’ll know by mid-July who the selection will be. And given that Trump can only serve one more term if victorious, whoever that selection is will be in pole position to become the GOP nominee in 2028.
Joe Concha is a Fox News contributor who joined the network in 2020.
He provides commentary and insight on current events on the Fox News and Fox Business Network, appearing regularly on Fox & Friends, The Big Saturday Show, Varney & Co., and Outnumbered.