5 unlucky candidates for Trump’s vice president

Several prominent Republicans have been considered as possible running mates for former President Trump, but as he moves closer to a decision, it remains unclear who he will choose.

Although Senators Tim Scott (RS.C.) and Marco Rubio (R-Florida) are considered some of the leading candidates, strategists say the former president could end up making an unexpected choice.

“The fundraising, the media skill, the loyalty to the America First agenda, I think those are the most important things,” said one Republican strategist. “But you know Trump, he’s unpredictable and will keep you guessing until the convention.”

Former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin’s (RN.Y.) name emerged this week as some argue that Trump’s former rival, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, could strike a unifying tone among Republicans and expand the party base.

Here are five potential unlucky candidates that Trump could choose as his running mate.

Nikki Haley

Haley and Trump went head-to-head during Super Tuesday earlier this year, despite Trump being the favorite to win the nomination. Although the dispute has become bitter and personal, Haley has been seen as a figure who could help grow Trump’s base inside and outside the Republican Party.

“On your dark horse list, Nikki Haley is probably the most likely because of what she brings,” the Republican strategist told The Hill.

Despite dropping out of the race, Haley continued to win significant shares of the vote in subsequent Republican primaries. In some states, Haley won nearly or more than 20% of the vote. Although Haley and Trump share many political similarities, they are seen as representing very different wings of the Republican Party and have very different brands.

Haley said last month that she would vote for Trump, but it’s unclear what her role in Trump’s campaign would be — or whether she would have one. Trump said in a Truth Social post early last month that Haley was “not being considered” to be his vice presidential pick, but later in the month he said he believed Haley would be on his team in some capacity.

“We have a lot of the same ideas, the same thoughts,” Trump said, after Haley said she would vote for him. “I appreciated what she said. You know, we had a nasty campaign, it was very nasty. But she’s a very capable person and I’m sure she’ll be on our team in some capacity, for sure.”

Lee Zeldin

Although Zeldin lost his bid to challenge New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) in 2022, he continued to enjoy a high profile among Republicans due to his performance in the Democratic stronghold.

Hochul defeated Zeldin 53 percent to 47 percent, but Zeldin received the largest vote share seen by a Republican candidate for governor of New York in years.

Zeldin’s role in helping make New York more competitive has some considering him as a potential pick for vice president.

“That’s nothing to sneeze at,” the Republican strategist said, referring to Zeldin’s 2022 campaign. “If you can go further in blue states, then you’re showing that you’re someone who can expand the map in the campaign.”

Furthermore, Zeldin is seen as strong in fundraising, which is always an advantage for his running mates.

“Lee Zeldin raised a lot of money in New York,” the strategist added.

“You need money to expand the map. The reason things look good for Trump right now is basically because Biden is retreating on the map.”

Wesley Hunt

Texas Rep. Wesley Hunt (R) has emerged not only as a rising Republican star but also as a vocal Trump supporter.

Hunt, along with Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Florida) — who has also been touted as a potential running mate — were in deep blue Philadelphia this week in an effort to appeal to black men. Recent polls have suggested that enthusiasm for Biden among the voting bloc may be waning, presenting an opportunity for Hunt and Donalds to reach out to the group on Trump’s behalf.

“This is not 1964. This is 2024,” Hunt said at the event, called “Congress, Cognac and Cigars.” “Do you know when the best time is to be black in America? Right now, tomorrow!

Hunt also spoke at the opening of a Trump campaign office in Philadelphia during the same trip. The Texas congressman also took to cable news to praise the former president, something Trump appreciates in his supporters.

Maria Elvira Salazar

Like Hunt, Representative Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Florida) is also considered a rising star within the Republican Party. The Miami-area congresswoman was elected in 2020, flipping Florida’s 27th Congressional District, which was considered “likely Democratic” at the time by the Cook Political Report.

Before serving in Congress, Salazar was a well-known broadcast journalist for Univision. Political observers point out that his identity as a Latino could be beneficial to Trump as the Republican Party seeks to continue to make inroads among Hispanic and Latino voters and improve its standing among women voters.

And like most other picks for vice president, Salazar has been a vocal defender of the former president in the face of legal troubles. The congresswoman was among several Republicans who traveled to New York City to support Trump during his silent trial.

However, as Trump is now a resident of the Sunshine State, the 12th Amendment – ​​which states that presidential and vice-presidential candidates on the same ticket must be from different states – could present an obstacle for her.

And yet, many say Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) would be first in line.

“If there is a way to get around the 12th Amendment, that would legitimately put Marco Rubio in the top two,” the strategist said.

Greg Abbott

Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) has also been touted as a potential pick, due to his high profile within the Republican Party. As governor of a state with the longest border with Mexico, Abbott has been a leading Republican voice on the southern border. The governor faced off against the Biden administration on the issue, making national headlines.

In March, Trump said Abbott was “absolutely” on his list of vice presidential candidates.

After Trump’s guilty verdict last week, Abbott said the trial was a “persecution” and not an “indictment.”

“There is every reason to hope that this decision will be overturned. But also, most Americans see this as a miscarriage of justice,” Abbott told CNBC. “And you can see that in the fundraising numbers, the poll numbers, that Trump was able to receive after that. And also, perhaps in part because of this, perhaps for other reasons, we are seeing Trump gain more support in the black community, in the Hispanic community, in all communities in the United States of America. This is not an accusation, this is persecution.”

Still, observers note that the odds of Abbott being chosen by Trump as his vice presidential candidate appear to be relatively low compared to other potential candidates.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story