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....
As for Tim Scott Ive been followin g him since he was first elected to the Senate...
He and I graduated from the same college...
I think Carol Swain would be someone to consider. Strong, but soft spoken. Super smart. Black female from poverty (to attract certain voters). Christian. NBC.
Paxton or Patrick from TX would be better than Abbott.
Harmeet was on the RNC Board Of Directors the whole time Ronna was misusing the organization’s funds. I don’t trust her.
Thank you! He’s a Bush squish, and probably much worse than just that.
But who is McDonald?
Ive been saying this as he already won in the future!
The movie "Idiocracy" is mandatory and available free on non-pay channels.
He’s a felon.
Those ar good but I think Abbott would be better. It’s all right.
Byron McDonald congressman from FL
Oh. Byron Donalds.
Hecd be good.
*None of the above. Instead: CLARENCE THOMAS*
A better Atty. General. Think payback.
My choice Rand Paul. He’d carry on the dismantling of the deep state. He’d have time to debate, one subject at a time, any wannabe POTUS on the other side. Pied Piper of liberty. Connects with the young.
Rand is my 3rd Senator...
I have 2 in TN and also Rand Paul in KY
:)
You did know the charges were dropped, didn’t you ?
I don’t see Trump picking Haley. She is funded by leftists and would probably be a threat to sabotage Trump.
Pence caught most of us by surprise. We should see Haley for what she is.
I won’t vote for any ticket with Haley on it, Trump or no Trump.
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