Even though the Republican presidential nomination process has only just started, Donald Trump has virtually locked up the candidacy. In the RealClearPolitics polling average as of February 22, he is leading his sole surviving opponent, Nikki Haley, by 57.9 points (74.8 to 16.9).
In addition, the forthcoming South Carolina primary is expected to have the former president leading Haley by a margin of 24.3 points, 61.8 to 36.5. Since South Carolina is Haley’s home state and where she was the first Indian-American governor (2011–2017), a loss there would be a devastating blow to her career.
If Trump is victorious in South Carolina—a state with a winner-take-all system—his delegate total will rise by fifty. As of right now, he has 63 out of Haley’s 17. A total of nine people have dropped from the race: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy.
In a recent interview, Trump discussed his preferred vice presidential prospects.
Trump Finally Reveals Possible VP Candidates
Fox News personality Laura Ingraham presided over a town hall meeting with Trump on February 20, during which the candidate discussed a range of topics related to the impending presidential election and the continuing campaign.
Along with previous presidential contender Ramaswamy, Republican Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, and former governor of Florida Ron DeSantis, Ingraham inquired about six other potential running mates from Trump, seemingly in response to a cue. The remaining members of the list were Republican Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota, former Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, and Representative Byron Donalds of Florida.
All of them were on Trump’s shortlist of potential running mates, as the president himself stated. “Everyone there is great,” he said, going on to call them all “solid.”
How Does Trump’s Shortlist Stack Up?
Trump may benefit from having any of those potential running mates. As an example, Gabbard is a Democrat who was in the US House of Representatives for four terms, the last of which was in 2021. She may be able to convince some Democrats and moderates to vote for Team Trump at the polls.
In 2022, DeSantis handily defeated his Democratic opponent in the race for governor of Florida, winning by an unprecedented margin of 19.4 points. Even though he was unsuccessful as a presidential contender, he is still a well-respected Republican and could inspire Republican voters to cast ballots.
In the corporate sector, Ramaswamy has ties. Scott is a beloved African American politician, Noem is an immensely popular governor from the Midwest, and Donalds was a potential House Speaker candidate following the removal of previous Representative Kevin McCarthy.
It is yet unknown who Trump would choose. The former president often does things that contradict his earlier claims and comments.
