Published February 24, 2024
Excitement in MAGA world is building over the race to be former President Trump’s running mate as he hints a decision could come soon.
Attendees on the final day of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday will hold a straw vote over who they most want to see as Trump’s second banana. Several hopefuls, including Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), have spoken at the conference.
There’s more drama about the vice presidential pick than there is for the GOP presidential nomination because Trump is expected to trounce rival candidate Nikki Haley in her home state of South Carolina on Saturday.
“It’s going to be a real-life version of The Apprentice,” GOP strategist Ford O’Connell said of the veepstakes, with a nod to Trump’s former reality television show.
This week, Trump confirmed at least a half dozen top party figures are on his shortlist, including three of his former primary rivals.
Trump said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy — who all have dropped out of the race — are “all solid” when asked whether they’re in the running. The former president’s list also includes Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) and former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (I).
Stefanik wasn’t listed when Trump confirmed the lineup, but she’s been an increasingly cited name in veepstakes conversations.
Though a nominee’s vice presidential pick doesn’t usually tip the scales when it comes to the general election, this year’s Republican running mate could be particularly important because Trump, who has already spent a term in the Oval Office, can only serve another four years.
