Amidst speculation, it is suggested that former President Donald Trump might attempt to divert attention from DeSantis, who declared his presidential bid on Wednesday, by spreading rumors about his potential vice presidential pick.
On the same day that the Florida Governor announced his candidacy, political forecaster Richard Hanania proposed that Trump would reveal Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina as his running mate. Scott, a black conservative who has shown support for Trump in the past, recently announced his own candidacy. However, polls do not indicate a strong national primary performance for Scott, leading some to believe that this move aims to position him for a significant role in the next administration.
Such a partnership with a black individual could potentially counter persistent accusations from the Left that Trump harbors racist views.
Hanania, the president of the Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology, shared on Twitter:
Trump is going to be the nominee, and I predict he picks Tim Scott as his running mate. Everyone loves an inoffensive black conservative, especially swing voters. Democrats will have to walk on eggshells in critiquing him.
— Richard Hanania (@RichardHanania) May 22, 2023
Trump-Scott ticket will be very tough to beat.
Hanania further commented, stating, “There is a prevailing belief among conservatives that ‘Democrats possess unlimited power and can manipulate reality as they please, and there is no way to counter it.’ However, they too face challenging circumstances at times. It’s important to stop treating them as infallible.”
Significantly, in response to Scott’s presidential candidacy announcement, Trump expressed his congratulations on his Truth Social platform, stating:
“Good luck to Senator Tim Scott in entering the Republican Presidential Primary Race,” he wrote on Truth Social. “It is rapidly loading up with lots of people, and Tim is a big step up from Ron DeSanctimonious, who is totally unelectable. I got Opportunity Zones done with Tim, a big deal that has been highly successful. Good luck Tim!”
According to various political commentators, there is speculation that Trump may choose a female running mate. The website 1945 has proposed that the former president is expected to make a surprising selection for his VP, potentially including Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Arizona Republican Kari Lake, and South Dakota GOP Gov. Kristi Noem on the shortlist.
Referring to Kari Lake, the 1945 report mentioned:
“Lake certainly looked ascendant last fall when she was competing for Arizona’s governorship. She enjoyed Trump’s endorsement, and she enjoyed favorable coverage in conservative media. It’s not hard to understand why.
“Lake is a unique creature, spewing the hard right rhetoric that MAGA Nation finds so endearing while doing so with the glitz and polish of a seasoned TV reporter. She was delivering Trump’s message – but she was doing so without the spray tan and the guttural accent and the lack of eloquence. Rather, Lake delivered Trump’s message all pretty-like.”
“Trump loves her, and she loves Trump. And impressively, MTG seems to be pivoting into a position of more mainstream acceptance with the GOP (as demonstrated through her support of Kevin McCarthy for speaker).
“The version of MTG that can appeal to both MAGA and the mainstream is a concerning premise, and someone that Trump has his eye on as a prospective running mate with appeal in the newly-in-play Georgia.”
Regarding Noem, the report stated: “The governor of South Dakota is apparently on Trump’s shortlist. Noem said she would be shocked if Trump chose her, and I think she means it; she is a long-shot pick.
But she’s got a few of the things Trump guns for. One, Noem has been loyal to Trump, vowing to support the former president through the 2024 campaign. And Trump values loyalty above seemingly all else.”
The Daily Caller reported “the former president has indicated that ‘a lot of people’ are ‘auditioning’ behind the scenes” to be his Vice President.
