In a move that has put an end to months of speculation, former President Donald Trump has announced his selection of Ohio Senator JD Vance as his running mate in his quest to reclaim the presidency. This decision was made public on the inaugural day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The announcement follows a near-fatal incident at a Pennsylvania rally where a 20-year-old gunman, Thomas Crooks, shot at Trump, narrowly missing his head and tragically killing a bystander.
Throughout his campaign, Trump had been cryptic about his choice of vice president, initially stating that he had selected his running mate but withholding further details. The former president had spoken highly of a variety of candidates over the months, keeping several close allies in the loop, but the final decision remained a mystery until the last moment.
In a Fox News town hall in February, Trump confirmed that he was considering several potential running mates, including Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), former Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, biotech tycoon Vivek Ramaswamy, Representative Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. However, DeSantis distanced himself from the possibility, stating he would not be "doing that" a day after Trump's declaration.
As the campaign progressed, the list of potential candidates evolved. Sources close to the Trump campaign revealed to The New York Post that Noem had jeopardized her chances after discussing a controversial incident involving her dog in her memoir. Ramaswamy was also confirmed to be out of the race early on. More recently, insiders reported that Scott's standing had declined.
In the week leading up to Trump's announcement, sources close to his campaign suggested that the former president was most likely to choose either North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum or Senator JD Vance (R-OH). Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) was also considered a top contender, albeit with a lesser chance.
These three candidates had shown unwavering support for Trump and had campaigned for him nationwide, joining him at rallies and the debate against President Biden. Trump's team consistently maintained that there were numerous candidates on the list, including some that the media had overlooked.
Representative Elise Stefanik of Upstate New York, a staunch supporter of the former president throughout his re-election campaign and legal trials, was also rumored to be seeking the nomination. Trump supporters in early-voting states expressed their openness to a wide range of options, ultimately leaving the decision to the former president.
Other names suggested by voters included media personality Tucker Carlson, 2016 presidential candidate Ben Carson, the Daily Wire's Candace Owens, Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake, and Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Trump's former press secretary and Arkansas governor.
The chosen vice president may engage in a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, provided the two campaigns agree on a network to host the event. Biden's team has advocated for CBS News, while Trump's campaign has accepted Fox News for the vice presidential debate.
Trump has previously stated that his choice of vice president won't significantly sway the polls, telling Fox News in January that "it's never really had that much of an effect on an election." However, given some concerns about his age, a younger running mate could potentially reassure some voters.
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