Rare News Desk
With Sen. Ted Cruz’s departure from the race for the Republican nomination for president Tuesday, New York businessman Donald Trump has become the presumptive GOP nominee.
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While there are still primaries on the horizon, Trump vowed Tuesday night he will swivel from his former Republican rivals to take dead aim at the assumed Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton.
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But who will be at his side as he takes on Clinton?
On “Good Morning America” Wednesday, Trump gave a hint as to whom he may be looking for as a running mate. He told GMA host George Stephanopoulos that he would be looking for “a person with political experience.”
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On MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Trump wanted a person who could handle dealing with congress because he said he didn’t want to have to resort to presidential executive orders as President Obama has done.
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So who is Trump likely considering? Here are a few names being bandied about as potential running mates.
Scott Walker
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The Wisconsin governor has the political chops – and guts – that would make him an attractive vice presidential pick. He is a tough campaigner and Trump has mentioned his name on several occasions during the campaign.
Rick Scott
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A name seen on several potential lists of Trump running mates is Florida Gov. Rick Scott. Scott was a businessman before he was a politician, making millions (and getting into some trouble) as a health-care executive. However, just this past week he said he would not be interested in being Trump’s running mate.
Nikki Haley
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Would Trump pick a woman? Would he pick one that didn’t pick him? South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley endorsed Marco Rubio days before the South Carolina primary. Haley and Trump did both speak nicely of each other after the state’s primary which Trump won.
Joe Scarborough
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Scarborough is a former congressman from Florida’s panhandle. He’s friendly with Trump, by all accounts. While he didn’t say yes, he didn’t say no about being on the ticket with Trump when radio host Hugh Hewitt asked him if he would consider the position of running mate.
Carl Icahn
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Icahn is a businessman like Trump, the only difference being his net worth is about five times as much as Trump’s. Icahn got his money the old-fashioned way – as founder and majority shareholder of Icahn Enterprises – a holding company based in New York City. He has no political experience.
Rudy Giuliani
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Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City, has been seen huddling with Trump, offering advice on the campaign, some reports say. If Trump is looking for a politician as a running mate, he could find Giuliani’s leadership skills – particularly during a crisis – appealing.
Sen. Jefferson Beauregard “Jeff” Sessions
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The Alabama senator is often mentioned by Trump in campaign speeches. Sessions is one of the most conservatives members of the Senate and is respected by his colleagues there. He is a member of the Senate’s Armed Services Committee. He lives in Mobile, Ala., the city that hosted one of the largest of Trump’s campaign rallies.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie
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He’s been seen with Trump at various rallies around the country — oddly looking as if he is being held captive to some. He is the sitting governor of a state with 14 Electoral College votes.
Newt Gingrich
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The former Speaker of the House said in an interview last week that he would consider being Trump’s running mate. With solid conservative credentials — remember the “Contract with America” – he could help to bring together a party that seems to be beyond splintered.
Sen. Joni Ernst
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Trump has a problem with women – and naming one as a running mate could go a long way in closing that divide. Ernst, a senator from the swing state of Iowa and a veteran of the Gulf War, sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin
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Fallin is said to be interested in the job. (See Joni Ernst for reasons it would be a good idea to go with a woman as a running mate.)
Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton
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Bolton’s name has been coming up in conversation about Trump’s running mate. Bolton is strong on foreign policy, something Trump detractors often point to as one of the candidate’s weaknesses. “I think he’s, you know a tough cookie,” Trump said on “Meet the Press,” last year. “He knows what he is talking about. I think he’s terrific.”
Ohio Gov. John Kasich
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It’s hard to imagine that Trump would ask Ted Cruz or Jeb Bush to be a running mate – almost as hard as it would be to imagine they would take his call. But John Kasich may be a different story. No Republican has ever won the White House without winning Kasich’s home state of Ohio – that would be the Ohio that has 18 electoral votes.
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Sen. Marco Rubio
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Things went a little South between the two before Rubio suspended his campaign – remember the “Little Marco” and “Trump’s hands” moments? But in politics, incidents like those become background when you are talking about the White House. Trump would benefit from Rubio’s reputation and his ties to the Hispanic community. And, Florida has 29 electoral votes, not a little thing — remember the 2000 presidential election and the “chads?”
Who do you think Trump will select? Let us know in the comments.
