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Donald Trump on Monday spent part of his July 4th with Sen. Joni Ernst -- fueling speculation that the Iowa freshman senator could be on the short list of his vice presidential picks. Ernst told Fox News they had a "good conversation," adding, "I will continue to share my insights with Donald about the need to strengthen our economy, keep our nation safe, and ensure America is always a strong, stabilizing force around the globe." Earlier, Trump tweeted, "I look forward to meeting (Ernst) today in New Jersey. She has done a great job as Senator of Iowa!"

Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst is among the candidates being considered to become Donald Trump's running mate, a source with knowledge of Trump's vice presidential selection process tells CNN. Another source close to the process confirmed the information. It's not clear whether the freshman Republican senator and tea party star has received paperwork from the campaign or is just being scrutinized through the wealth of publicly accessible information about her. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence are also being considered, the source said. A senior Trump campaign adviser confirmed Pence is being...

Donald Trump announced he would meet with Sen. Joni Ernst on Monday, one of several recent names dropped on his Twitter feed that are fueling speculation over his highly-anticipated vice presidential selection. "I look forward to meeting @joniernst today in New Jersey. She has done a great job as Senator of Iowa!" Trump tweeted early Monday. Ernst's name appeared in reports on VP shortlists over the weekend, and a senior Trump adviser confirmed to CNN that Ernst is being considered. Trump also doled out some conspicuous praise for Indiana Gov. Mike Pence and Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, who have also...

Newsmax.com, one of America's leading online news services, is conducting an urgent national online poll about Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump's potential Vice Presidential picks. Donald Trump values your opinion and looks to online surveys like Newsmax's. Newsmax will provide the results of this poll to major outlets. Newsmax's results also will be shared with popular radio talk-show hosts across America. Newsmax reports have been cited by major networks, including CNN, ABC, Fox News, CBS, MSNBC, and other leading news organizations. Don't miss the opportunity to let your voice be heard. MY choice is NOT on the list. Governor of...

Jeff Sessions is on Donald Trump's shortlist for a potential vice presidential running mate, according to reports. The New York Post said Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has narrowed down his list of potential running mates. The list includes Sessions, Alabama's junior Senator, as well as a retired general and a Washington lawmaker. Sessions, the first Senator to endorse Trump, is advising him on foreign policy and immigration matters...

The Republican National Convention opens in Cleveland — we are all witnesses — in exactly 16 days. That means that sometime over the next two weeks or so, we'll find out whom Trump has picked to be his vice-presidential running mate. Trump and his team have said all sorts of things about the timing of the announcement, including sometime soon and in the midst of the convention. Either way, it's coming. And coming soon. Trying to figure out a) whom Trump will pick or b) whom he is consulting in deciding whom to pick is, well, tough. But we do...

A former adviser to Donald Trump floated Utah Rep. Mia Love on Friday as a possible pick for vice president on the real-estate mogul's ticket. "If you were to name some people that nobody is talking about, to keep an eye on with the vice president [pick] … who would you say we should keep our eye on?" asked Brian Kilmeade, a Fox News Radio host. The former adviser, Michael Caputo, prefaced his answer by saying he was "never in those discussions" because they were "above my pay grade." That said, he provided a couple names. "The two people I...

Former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling has some ideas for a Donald Trump presidency.

As Donald Trump, the eventual GOP presidential nominee, sifts through a handful of potential vice presidential picks, one is rising to the top in Washington and conservative circles: Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. "He does all the things that Trump needs," said a Trump advisor. While in the past it was key for candidates to consider a geographical teaming, with Trump the issue is energizing the Republican voting blocks with a running mate that could also provide savvy counsel once elected. Insiders said that Gingrich's assets are his close ties to conservatives and the pro-life movement and his years as...

Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., was labeled by Charles Krauthammer on Friday as the pundit’s leading pick to be the running mate of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. The Washington Post, citing unnamed sources, said Corker will be meeting Monday with Trump at Trump Tower in New York City Krauthammer used a hypothetical pot of $100 in casino chips to make his point, putting $25 on Corker, $20 on former Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., $20 on Ohio Gov. John Kasich, $10 on former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, and $5 on Heritage Foundation President Jim DeMint. The rest went to “the field,”...

DENVER — Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich won Sunday’s Republican vice presidential straw poll of attendees at the Western Conservative Summit. Mr. Gingrich, who took 194 votes, for 20 percent of the 985 votes cast, was followed by Sen. Tom Cotton, Arkansas Republican, who spoke Saturday at the three-day conference and took 148 votes, or 15 percent. Rounding out the top five were three former Republican presidential candidates: ex-Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas....

Washington (CNN)Donald Trump's much anticipated vice presidential pick is expected to be announced next week, a Trump adviser told CNN Tuesday... Does Trump want to double the bombast by picking a brash straight-talker who mirrors his own style, like New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie or former House Speaker Newt Gingrich? Does he prefer someone whose Washington experience and message discipline would counter his freelancing, like Indiana Gov. Mike Pence? Or does he want to elevate a rising star, like Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst or Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton? Pence and his wife Karen met with Trump at his New Jersey...

The NOTION THAT BARACK Obama should pick Hillary Clinton as his vice presidential running mate is crazy. She passes the first test of a veep selection: she's a plausible president. But she fails the second. She doesn't qualify as a partner on the Democratic ticket (and possibly in the White House) that Obama would be comfortable with--far from it. But there is someone who does meet these two requirements, plus a third one and maybe a fourth. That person is Democratic Governor Edward Rendell of Pennsylvania. Yes, Rendell was the leading supporter of Clinton when she trounced Obama in the...