The leak-driven orchestration by Republicans openly or quietly running for vice president is a classic cabaret of political and media intrigue.
Virtually every big name on the mythical “short list” – which essentially exists in Donald Trump's head – has suffered a boom in the press, fueled by the potential vice president or surrogates.
The Trump campaign is baffled by the spectacle and happy to let the auditions play out. In fact, in some cases Trump wants this evidence. They range from joint speaking appearances to network interviews to appearing at the hush money trial to defend the accused former president (for almost anyone seeking the prize).
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North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum encourages voters to support Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in the basement ballroom of The Margate Resort on January 22, 2024 in Laconia, New Hampshire. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, journalists have nothing else to cover (other than indulge in six weeks of speculation until the first debate). That's why they've created the closest thing to a horse race and are susceptible to rumors about apparent fluctuations among contenders.
The leaks do not come from the Trump team. Its members know very well that different strategists and allies are promoting certain names. But they don't really care what the motivation is, as long as they're fighting for Trump.
The former president's camp believes that everyone gets along, rather than humiliating each other, which creates a team spirit. The outlook is that many of those who don't get the nod will end up in cabinet or other administrative positions.
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Tim Scott has been publicly seeking the nomination since his own presidential campaign quickly imploded. But Trump has sounded dismissive, saying that the only black Republican in the Senate does a better job defending him than himself, but that he is a “high-quality person.” He's accusing Joe Biden of pandering to black people, but his dovish attitude can be damaging.
Still, the senator is listed near the top of all media's list.
Doug Burgum is the obscure North Dakota governor and tech entrepreneur whose presidential campaign disappeared without a trace. But he waits, here comes the news that Trump likes him!
Washington Post: “Trump allies have discussed Burgum as a possible vice presidential candidate, even as they warn the list remains long.”
Wall Street Journal: “Rich, loyal and handsome: Why little-known Doug Burgum is in Trump's VP mix.”
Yahoo: “Doug Burgum has unexpectedly emerged as a top choice to serve as former President Trump's running mate.”
NORTH DAKOTA GOVERNOR, FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE DOUG BURGUM FRONT AND CENTER AT TRUMP RALLY IN NEW JERSEY
Marco Rubio, who lost to Trump in 2016, had his moment after doing well at a donor event.
NBC: “Senator Marco Rubio is moving up former President Donald Trump's list of potential vice presidential candidates, according to six people familiar with the presumptive Republican nominee's search for a running mate.”
Financial Times: “Marco Rubio has emerged as donors' favorite to become Donald Trump's running mate, as the former president searches for candidates who can broaden his appeal and help finance his White House campaign and projects. Of law.”
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., questions Secretary of State Antony Blinken during the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2024 budget for the State Department in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Wednesday, March 3. 22, 2023. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
One major complication: The Constitution prohibits running mates from being from the same state. But the Florida senator suggested he would move out of state.
JD Vance, the senator from Ohio, drew media attention when he attended Trump's trial last week and denounced lead accuser Michael Cohen.
The Hill: “Vance challenges Scott for top spot on Trump's VP shortlist.”
New York Times: “JD Vance, candidate to be Trump's running mate, denounces a witness.”
Washington Post: “JD Vance, from Never Trumper to running mate candidate.”
But when Vance was just an author, in 2016, he warned Christian voters about Trump: “When we apologize for this man, may the Lord help us.”
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Trump has noted that Vance once “said some bad things about me.” But he has been known to forgive past critics, such as Ted Cruz and the man he once nicknamed “Little Marco.”
The height of absurdity came when Axios reported that Nikki Haley, who has not endorsed Trump two months after abandoning her last opponent, was under active consideration as his running mate.
The next day a Truth Social post appeared: “Nikki Haley is not under consideration for VP, but I wish her the best!”
Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and former President Donald Trump. (Getty Images)
That lasted a long time.
This week's Sunday shows became a prime battleground for those competing in the Vepstakes or imagining themselves to be contenders.
Elise Stefanik was on “Fox News Sunday,” where host Shannon Bream asked if she had said in a 2015 radio interview that Trump was “insulting women.”
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“It is a shame that the New York Times is cited with false and anonymous sources,” the congresswoman replied.
Bream pressed again as things heated up: Did he say those words or not?
“I said the statement that Democrats leaked in 2016 was an insult,” Stefanik said, emphasizing that she endorsed Trump in that election.
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R.N.Y., speaks at the House Education and Workforce Committee hearing on “Columbia in Crisis: Columbia University's Response to Antisemitism” on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday April 17th. (AP/Mariam Zuhaib)
Vance was on “Face the Nation,” where he made the obligatory statement, as everyone does, that Trump has not spoken to him about the vice presidency. “It's about getting him elected president. I actually don't care much who the vice president is because ultimately Trump will govern,” Vance said.
Rubio had a heated, high-decibel interview on “Meet the Press,” where host Kristen Welker asked, “Will you accept the results of the 2024 election, no matter what, Senator?”
“No matter what? No. If it's an unfair election, I think both sides will dispute it.”
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When Walker noted that the senator had voted to certify the 2020 election, the senator made some unsubstantiated claims: “I think what undermines people's confidence in elections is when you have places like Wisconsin with over 500 locations illegal mailboxes, when you have places like Georgia where there are liberal groups [paying] people, $10 per vote. You couldn't even talk about it on social media. They would knock you down.”
Rubio said Democrats have “opposed every Republican victory since 2000,” Welker said those candidates, including Hillary Clinton, acknowledged the election.
Which brings us to Ben Carson. He has been virtually invisible since Trump left office, but NBC reported a few days ago that the former HUD secretary “has emerged as a strong choice,” although he is staying away from the show. Carson suddenly appeared in “The State of the Union.” He emerged as a strong option.
Then-Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Ben Carson addresses the Republican National Convention in a pre-recorded speech at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC, on August 26, 2020. (NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images)
In an extraordinarily low-key performance, Carson said that “President Trump doesn't like to surround himself with yes-sayers,” adding that he agrees that abortion should be decided by the states.
Carson said there had been no discussions about the running mate, but he would “love” to debate Kamala Harris.
Now, Trump would not be the first presidential candidate to allow an unrealistic name to be mentioned to flatter that person or please a group of voters. And it doesn't take much to get the press angry.
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This is all starting to look like an “apprentice” contest.
But since Trump has made it clear that he won't make an announcement until just before the convention, why ruin the suspense? – this will not be decided for two months.
Another factor: Does Trump choose a running mate who won't be a candidate for four years and therefore poses no risk of upstaging him? Or does he choose someone who immediately starts running to succeed him?
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One thing is clear: As Trump has told me and others, the election ultimately doesn't matter because people don't vote for vice president, what matters is the top of the ticket.
