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Four leading candidates for vice president among Republican voters are not on former President Donald Trump’s short list, raising speculation among supporters that Trump’s decision-making may be influenced by personal grudges or strategic misdirection.
According to the latest I&I/TIPP Poll, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, and Governor Greg Abbott of Texas are the top four choices for vice president.
DeSantis, Haley, and Ramaswamy have previously criticized Trump and are excluded from his shortlist, while Abbott, who has had past disagreements with Trump but recently aligned with him on border issues, also didn’t receive vetting from Trump’s team.
The poll shows Republican voters favor DeSantis at 14%, Haley at 11%, Ramaswamy at 8%, and Abbott at 7% as their top vice-presidential picks.
The survey analysis highlights the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s potential choice: whether he will opt for a running mate who offers robust political and policy support or choose someone for demographic appeal to aid in election outreach but limit their role as vice president.
Trump initially indicated that he would announce his choice soon but has since decided to wait until the Republican National Convention, the traditional time for revealing a running mate.
Historically, Republican nominees have selected vice-presidential candidates who previously opposed them, such as former President Ronald Reagan choosing George H.W. Bush despite Bush’s criticism of Reagan’s economic policies.
