Mark Davis: No, Trump will have Haley or RFK Jr. not elected as VP. These are his best options

The selection of a running mate is a high-stakes choice for any presidential candidate, but when the selection is made by Donald Trump, his decision becomes increasingly intriguing. Is he best served by someone who excites the base even more, or is it wiser to choose someone who broadens his appeal and lures back voters who have distanced themselves from him?

Any list assessing Trump’s prospects is constructed based on the tastes of who compiles it. My desire is to return Trump’s policies to the White House, supported by a vice president who will be a strong ally who will continue those policies if necessary. While his boundless energy may ensure that Trump will outlive us all, the fact is that he will turn 80 the year after the inauguration. Even if his vitality continues, the term would limit his ability to run again, making his partner a likely factor for the 2028 and 2032 elections.

Since we’re talking about someone who could occupy the White House until early 2037, relatively young people are on my list of favorites. It seems sensible, as the country may have had plenty of candidates born before the Korean War.

Using the logic that Trump himself applies in his own way, the path to favorable choices is crossed in the list of names to be set aside. First, the people he simply won’t choose.

• Governor of South Dakota Kristi Noem, after her political suicide in book.

• Vivek Ramaswamy, whose communication gifts are compromised by age (38), inexperience and the occasional foolish idea. Youth is a possible asset, but there are limits. As a columnist friend of mine once said, “We can’t have someone in the Oval Office who first heard Nirvana on a classic rock station.”

• Tucker Carlsonan intriguing commentator whose occasionally topical rabbit holes make Ramaswamy look like William F. Buckley.

• and former UN ambassador Nikki Haleywhom Trump seems to genuinely dislike after their series of primaries.

Some may question the not insignificant number of voters Haley has attracted, perhaps as a statement of residual distaste for Trump. But rather than inviting bad chemistry to appease that tantrum, I calmly expect anyone with the slightest bit of Republican DNA to realize that their doubts about Trump are rightly exploded by thoughts of another Joe Biden term.

The strange idea of ​​”expanding the base” can lead to bad wisdom, leading to two names that would be nice, but don’t deserve any consideration:

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is attracting some ranks of the vaccine-hesitant Republican Party, but he’s been busy lately running his own independent campaign, filled with progressive positions on abortion, climate and gun control that sit poorly with a heartbeat away from the presidency.

• Tulsi Gabbard presents fewer obstacles, and her departure from the Democratic Party seems to paint a portrait of a liberal in recovery. Her growing list of conservative sensibilities lands her regularly on Fox News, and her military service supports many of her palatable views. But again, this choice is too important to swoon over someone we admire as a work in progress.

Then there are several perfectly acceptable candidates who do not meet my greatest enthusiasm; South Carolina Senator. Tim Scott, a great man without the fighting instincts that a Trump running mate needs; Florida Senator. Marco Rubio, which has improved over the years but still draws skepticism from some conservatives; and the governor of North Dakota. Doug Burgumwho, like New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, seems free of flaws, but is not the best Trump can do.

So who is better? My fantastic five:

• Ron DeSantis with a biography and record of governing unmatched by anyone else on the list;

• Ohio Senator. J.D. Vance, barely past forty, but already demonstrating an inspiring conservative command of both domestic and international issues;

• Arkansas Senator. Tom Cottonwhose talents are more globally oriented, but who provides the clarity needed in a dangerous world;

• Florida Rep. Byron Donaldswith a strong voting record and a powerful communication gift;

• and the governor of Arkansas. Sarah Huckabee Sanderswhose service as Trump’s White House press secretary revealed a skill on a wide range of issues and a knack for defending the boss.

For those wondering, yes, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott deserves consideration, but so far he hasn’t seemed to show any interest in being chosen at all. If that changes, the list will change too.

And since the decider is Trump, there’s always the possibility that a whole extra category will emerge, filled with people we don’t even think about.

Mark Davis hosts a morning radio show in Dallas-Fort Worth on 660-AM and at 660amtheanswer.com. Follow him on X: @markdavis.

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