A Candidate Needed to Expand the Support Base Among Moderate Voters
Former President Donald Trump, confirmed as the Republican frontrunner in the upcoming U.S. presidential election this November, has begun searching for a vice presidential candidate to join him as his running mate. There is an assessment that a candidate with the qualities to expand Trump's current support base from the far-right to the moderate center is needed.
According to U.S. political media outlet Politico on the 31st of last month (local time), Trump's campaign is scouting for vice presidential candidates primarily among about ten Republican politicians.
The list of potential vice presidential candidates reportedly includes Senator Tim Scott, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, Representative Elise Stefanik, former Representative Tulsi Gabbard, Senator J.D. Vance, and Representative Byron Donalds. All of these individuals are recognized for their strong loyalty to former President Trump. In particular, Senator Scott, the only Black Republican senator, has been an enthusiastic supporter of Trump even after withdrawing from the primaries.
Additionally, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, North Dakota Governor and former Republican primary candidate Doug Burgum, Katie Britt, the youngest female senator who delivered the opposition response to President Joe Biden's State of the Union address, and Senator Marco Rubio are also mentioned as potential vice presidential candidates.
It is reported that former President Trump is looking for a presidential successor who can stand in for him in emergency situations. He is also said to believe that since he must step down after a four-year term if elected, a vice president with significant weight who could challenge for the presidency in 2028 should be chosen.
Within and outside the Republican Party, the basic qualification for a vice presidential candidate is considered to be someone who can complement and expand the support base from the far-right to include women, people of color, and moderates.
However, it is reported that the list of vice presidential prospects presented by Trump continues to change. There are also criticisms that the list of candidates lacks substance.
Politico stated, "It does not appear that the vice presidential selection is imminent," adding, "Trump has many judicial hurdles to overcome before then."
Trump only needs to select his vice presidential candidate before the Republican National Convention scheduled for July, where the presidential nominee will be officially chosen.
Meanwhile, Mark Esper, who served as Secretary of Defense under the Trump administration, has stated that he will not vote for Trump.
Esper appeared on the HBO streaming talk show 'Real Time with Bill Maher' and said, "Every time Trump does something crazy, the door opens a little wider for voting for President Joe Biden," suggesting the possibility of voting for Biden.
Esper was dismissed by Trump during the November 2020 election and has consistently criticized Trump as a threat to democracy during events such as the January 2021 Capitol riot.
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