Trump's 2024 Challenge: Choosing a Running Mate That Matters

The public jockeying for Donald Trump's running mate has taken on a circus-like atmosphere, raising questions about the role of the vice presidency in the modern political landscape.

Jul 10, 2024

Trump VP search: Former president's team asks contenders Burgum, Vance ... — Trump VP frontrunners (North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, Florida Senator Marco Rubio)

The Facts:

The race for the 2024 US presidential election has taken an unexpected turn, with President Biden's declining popularity and the Democratic Party's internal turmoil reshaping the dynamics. This has presented an opening for former President Donald Trump, who is now viewed as the favorite to win the election. Republicans are understandably giddy about the Democratic troubles, but the country remains closely divided, and the election is a long way from over.

Trump has shown admirable restraint in the wake of the recent debate, allowing the Democrats to implode until his recent profane golf-cart outburst. The chaos within the Democratic Party has created an opportunity for Trump to portray himself as the safer choice for voters, especially with his upcoming decision on a running mate. The Republican National Convention begins on Monday in Milwaukee, and the running mate is expected to address the convention on the following Wednesday. As the Republican National Convention approaches and voters focus on the election, the race remains closer than it should be given Biden's perceived infirmities.

Swing voters still have concerns about the prospect of another four years of turmoil under Trump, but the former president has an opportunity to project stability and calm. Still Democrats may find a way to nominate a more formidable candidate than Biden, and they are likely to unite behind whoever it is. As such the outcome of the race remains uncertain.

The public jockeying by various candidates to become Donald Trump's running mate has taken on the air of a circus. Trump sees his runs for president and his time in the White House as extensions of his reality show. His experience hosting "The Apprentice" informs how he views the world and how he makes his decisions. Trump would stop by casting calls to meet thousands of contestants, and he believed that he could identify star power simply by the way someone looked. Trump is looking for a running mate with a big personality for the role of his sidekick, but not so much personality that it would overshadow him.

Acknowledging some of the top contenders in a recent interview with Brian Kilmeade on Fox News Radio, Trump claimed they have factors that could complicate their selection. These include Doug Burgum's signing of a strict abortion ban in North Dakota and the potential constitutional challenges of choosing a running mate from the same state as himself, Marco Rubio. Trump suggested that the 12th Amendment of the Constitution, which prevents Florida's electors from selecting both a president and vice president from their home state, would complicate choosing Rubio but said it could be "fairly easily fixed." Nevertheless, Trump praised Burgum, Rubio, and J.D. Vance as "great" men and noted that Vance "looks like a young Abraham Lincoln."

The View:

While the impact of vice-presidential picks is debatable, the best running mates should serve with dignity and complement the president's legislative capabilities. Voters deserve a qualified and capable vice-presidential candidate who is prepared to assume the second-highest office and potentially the highest, if necessary.

Trump doesn't need an attack-dog VP or someone to rally his core voters; he needs a choice who shows mature judgment and has the ability to appeal to anxious and undecided voters. A vice president should bring more than just a strong personality and the ability to generate controversy; they should possess the qualifications and temperament to effectively assist the president and, if necessary, assume the highest office in the land.

The selection of a running mate is a crucial decision that can significantly shape the dynamics of the 2024 election. Trump must carefully consider the qualifications and characteristics of his pick, as the vice president's role is not merely a steppingstone to oblivion, but a position of significant importance. Voters deserve a qualified and capable candidate who is ready to assume the second-highest office, and potentially the highest, in the land.

Trump's apparent preference for a running mate with a big personality and the ability to generate headlines and drama is concerning. While showmanship and attention-grabbing may have served him well in his reality TV endeavors, the vice presidency requires a more dignified and substantive approach. The American people deserve a running mate who can offer powerful complementary legislative qualities to the president, not simply a yes-man or a lackey.

Ultimately, Trump's choice of running mate will be a critical test of his leadership and his ability to put the needs of the country above his personal interests. If he approaches this decision with the same showmanship and disregard for democratic norms that have characterized his political career, it will only further erode public trust and undermine the integrity of the electoral process.

TLDR:

The race for the 2024 US presidential election has taken an unexpected turn, with President Biden's declining popularity and the Democratic Party's internal turmoil.
This has presented an opening for former President Donald Trump, who is now viewed as the favorite to win the election.
Trump has shown admirable restraint in the wake of the recent debate, allowing the Democrats to implode until his recent profane golf-cart outburst.
The chaos within the Democratic Party has created an opportunity for Trump to portray himself as the safer choice for voters, especially with his upcoming decision on a running mate.
The public jockeying by various candidates to become Donald Trump's running mate has taken on the air of a circus.
Trump is looking for a running mate with a big personality for the role of his sidekick, but not so much personality that it would overshadow him.
The selection of a running mate is a crucial decision that can significantly shape the dynamics of the 2024 election.
Voters deserve a qualified and capable vice-presidential candidate who is prepared to assume the second-highest office and potentially the highest, if necessary.