MAJOR New Shakeup In Trump VP Race
According to a recent New York Post article, Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, once considered a strong contender to be former President Donald Trump’s running mate, is now losing ground in the vice-presidential race and is no longer seen as a front-runner.
Scott, 58, paused his presidential campaign before the Iowa caucuses last year and quickly endorsed former President Trump. On the campaign trail, he actively supported Trump, especially in South Carolina, where Trump easily defeated former Governor Nikki Haley.
Reports indicate that Trump has narrowed his list of potential vice-presidential candidates to a few names, including Scott. Other contenders are Senators JD Vance (R-OH), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum. The final decision, expected to be announced by or before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee next month, is currently under review.
However, individuals familiar with the situation told the New York Post that Senator Scott is not expected to be Trump’s running mate.
“I think it is extremely unlikely he will be picked,” said one insider. “You go down the list of reasons to choose a VP, and he isn’t a standout or game-changer in any category.”
“His star has become less bright, for sure,” a second “well-connected” source told the outlet. “Still a top-five pick — but not the strongest.” This source also suggested that Scott may not connect with the black community as effectively as the campaign had hoped.
“There are stronger options, and Tim has the potential to serve in the Cabinet, so I think he’ll still play an important role,” the source told The Post.
Scott remains "in the mix, but I suspect his biggest issue is that he’s just not very good on TV,” according to a third insider. Another source mentioned that Trump doesn’t believe the choice of vice president would significantly boost his electoral chances, meaning that candidates like Scott or Rubio don’t have a substantial advantage over others like Burgum or Vance.
Insiders also mentioned several “dark horse” candidates still in consideration, including Dr. Ben Carson, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), and Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
“Trump is looking for three things,” the fourth source said. “He’s looking for who can raise money, who is an effective surrogate on TV with adversarial media, and who will do the best job debating Kamala Harris.”
“Tim Scott is in contention, but probably the least likely of the four. There hasn’t been any data or evidence pointing to either Tim Scott or Marco Rubio adding to Trump’s margins with minorities.”
One of Trump’s campaign advisors told the New York Post that Trump has praised Scott’s advocacy work recently. Influential figures like Ken Griffin and hedge fund manager Bill Ackman have also mentioned Scott, which may have bolstered his standing.
“Senator Scott is a respected leader and very strong supporter of President Trump,” said Trump senior adviser Brian Hughes. “Any speculation of the likelihood of the Senator or any other possible choice is inaccurate because anyone claiming to know who or when President Trump will choose his VP is lying, unless the person is named Donald J. Trump.”