Let's just be honest, here.
Irrespective of the ongoing veepstakes discussions and prognostications about whom presumed 2024 Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump taps as his running mate, we all know that at the end of the proverbial day, it won't matter a bit. Reason being, it was always going to be about Trump at the top of the ticket.
Now, according to a new Rasmussen Reports survey, both Republicans and Democrats alike say Trump’s vice president candidate pick won’t make “much of a difference” on Election Day.
While the Trump veepstakes has been a hot topic for months, recent reports speculate that the three most likely candidates are North Dakota Republican Gov. Doug Burgum, and Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and J.D. Vance (R-OH).
Donald Trump Has Big Plans for His VP Nominee
The Washington Examiner’s Tiana Lowe Doescher believes the rumored shortlist stems from Trump's love of “ready for prime time central casting”:
Marco Rubio, incredible orator, same thing with J.D. Vance, great personal story, and Doug Burgum, billionaire in his own right, very successful businessman. Look, they don’t necessarily shore up any significant electoral base, not that it is clear on the map right now that Trump really needs it, right?
He’s ahead in every single swing state, except for Wisconsin and Michigan, where he’s virtually tied, which is very different from previous elections where he was behind in all these swing states until he maybe won them. So he’s not too concerned about that, but really what Trump wants is he doesn’t want a repeat of Mike Pence. He doesn’t want to feel undermined.
I'm not going to wade into the "Mike Pence thing," because I will change zero minds if I do. That said, according to the Rasmussen survey, Trump's 2024 choice is irrelevant to eight out 10 voters, on both sides of the aisle.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 80% of Likely U.S. voters say Trump’s choice of a vice-presidential running mate won’t make much difference in whether they would vote for the Republican. Only 13% think Trump’s VP pick would matter.
[...]
Solid majorities of every political category – 82% of Republicans, 81% of Democrats and 76% of unaffiliated candidates – say the choice of a vice-presidential running mate won’t make much difference in whether they would vote for Trump.
Men (18%) are significantly more likely than women voters (13%) to see DeSantis as Trump’s best choice for a running mate, but men and women voters are roughly equal in viewing Scott (men 12%, women 11%) and Carson (men 11%, women 12%) as the best VP picks.
So there's that name, again: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
While I don't think there's a snowball's chance of DeSantis being Trump's running mate, I also know that in this crazy election year, nothing would surprise me. I mean nothing.
The Bottom Line
The Thursday debate will come before either candidate becomes the presidential nominee of his respective party, and while Trump's choice is still unknown, he's said he knows who he'll choose. He's also said his choice will “most likely” be at the debate.
Popcorn time, or more teasing? Either way, it doesn't really matter.
Related:
People Worrying About Trump's VP Pick Need to Step Back and Breathe
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