Posted on 02/19/2024 8:41:07 AM PST by MtnClimber
A presidential candidate’s running mate is usually chosen to “balance” the ticket to shore up electoral weaknesses. But in former President Donald Trump’s case, his vice presidential pick is likely to receive added scrutiny due to his multitude of legal problems. That’s why this month I&I/TIPP asked U.S. voters: Who should Trump’s vice presidential running mate be?
To find out who’s potentially strongest as a vice presidential candidate, I&I/TIPP’s national online poll, taken by 587 registered Republican primary voters from Jan. 31-Feb. 2, asked two questions: “If Trump wins the Republican nomination, who would be your top choice for his Vice President?” and, “If Trump wins the Republican nomination, who would be your second choice for his Vice President?”
The names came from a long list of recent media and campaign mentions of potential VP candidates (for the full list, see chart with this story). It also includes those who challenged Trump in the primaries, but subsequently dropped out, and one candidate still in the race.
Out of 14 possible names for the question about the “top choice” for vice president, only three reach double-digits: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (16%), entrepreneur, author and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy (14%), and former United Nations Ambassador and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (11%).
All the rest get single-digit support, from South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott (8%) to Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance (1%). But one remaining name still looms large: “Not sure,” which takes 20% of the vote, more than any individual candidate received. So people are still making up their minds.
The followup question, about the “second choice” for veep, shakes things up a bit, with DeSantis at 19%, Haley and Scott both at 12%, and former Housing Secretary and renowned medical doctor Ben Carson in fourth at 10%. All the rest, from Ramaswamy (7%) down to Florida Rep. Byron Daniels (2%) remain in single digits.
So which vice presidential candidate would have the most electoral clout? To determine this, I&I/TIPP then added up the individual scores for each question to see who was named by the most potential voters.
It wasn’t very close. DeSantis received 34% of the total votes cast on both questions, compared to 24% for Haley, 21% for Ramaswamy, 19% for Scott, 17% for Carson, 12% for TV personality and commentator Tucker Carlson and 10% for South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem.
All the rest received 7% or less of the total, from former Arkansas governor and political commentator Sarah Huckabee Sanders and former National Security Adviser Gen. Mike Flynn down to Daniels at 3%.
Why focus on this so early in the game, when a vice presidential selection is usually not made until the summer before an election?
The answer, of course, it that Trump is hardly a typical candidate. To begin with, fair or not, he’s a highly divisive figure in American politics, within both parties.
But more importantly, with four major indictments against him in the last two years whose outcomes are still unclear, it’s not at all certain that even with his huge lead in the polls Trump can emerge from the process unscathed.
No former president in U.S. history has faced such a barrage of litigation, in Trump’s case suspiciously filed as he geared up to run for a second term....
Trump and DeSantis are both Florida residents. I don’t think it would be wise for Trump to switch back to being a NY resident. I would also like DeSantis to remain the governor of FL as there are many political fights still to be won.
I don’t see Trump picking Haley. She is funded by leftists and would probably be a threat to sabotage Trump.
I am interested to hear who others think the VP pick should be.
I won’t vote for Trump if he picks Haley.
Ask 587 people on FR and I doubt RD gets more than 10% and NH more than 3%. Plus I really think there’s a mystery candidate that’s not even on the list.
Frankly...none of the above...Post are good candidates for a position...except Icky Nikki...who needs to move to Canada.
Trump has not talked to me yet. I swear That's the truth.
I liked the Korean kid who went into the navy and then space.
I prefer Kari Lake. Someone who cannot be bribed, and has an axe to grind against the swamp/democrats/rino’s.
Ix-nay on the top four. Obviously, MAGA were not polled.
I have 0 interest in a female potus/vp.
Flame away......
I think General Mike Flynn would be the best pick - least chance of being compromised
I agree. I think that 20% "not sure" is a 20% "find someone else, please." At 20%, it's in first place.
I know this may sound strange to many, but I’d like to see the governor of North Dakota, Doug Burgum, as his VP.
My choices are:
Abbott is also term-limited. Texas is already safe for Trump, but Abbott is strong in the border and immigration, and might bring handicapped support.
-PJ
Ramaswamy shows he understands the ‘America First’ philosophy, which sets him above many on that list. Neither DeSantis nor Haley are solid on that. DeSantis ‘appears’ to be because he has strong America First support in his state’s congress.
J.D. Vance is solid, as is Kari Lake
In a way, I’d like to see Kari Lake as Trump’s VP since she really understands, and stands for, America First. Plus, it might put her in a position to run as a strong, and likable, Presidential candidate.
My 2¢’s worth.
I would like to see Flynn as DNI to clean up the intel agencies and State Dept with a chain saw.
I supported DeSantis before he ran for President , not anymore. It was a terrible waste and a sign of his lack of judgement.
Trump will choose his VP with the view of the person most capable of becoming President after Him.
I remember when Trump was president, shortly after Nikki left as U.N. ambassador, there was an article in the left-wing press, , Atlantic, NYT, I forget, by an "anonymous" Trump administration "insider", about how the "pros" were keeping an eye on Trump and keeping him in check. I was pretty sure at the time that the author was Haley. She is much better than Biden, but I detest her. She is an absolute non-starter for me.
I want General Flynn to be Attorney General, boss of the FBI.
I want him to clean that Augean stable by changing the course of the Potomac and cleansing it completely, and then relocating FBI headquarters to Oklahoma City.
I don't think that choice is strange at all.
I’d take anyone else on that list over Haley
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