Joe Biden and Donald Trump squared off four years ago and are on track for the first major party rematch between a current and former president since 1892. Biden and Trump are the oldest presidential candidates in history, and each man has an established political brand. Biden first one federal office in 1972. And it has been over a decade since the GOP nominated someone other than Donald Trump. In other words, the 2024 election is a repeat. And yet, as familiar as the campaign may seem, there remain several unknowns. Foremost among them is the identity of Donald Trump’s running mate. Trump’s pick may not figure heavily in voters decisions this fall, but it will say something about where Trump wants the GOP to go in 2028 and beyond. When Trump picked Mike Pence in 2016, he was interested in uniting in the Republican Party. Pence was a successful two term governor of Indiana, who had served in Congress and had extensive ties to evangelical Christian voters who were reluctant at first to board the Trump Train. What’s more pensez communication skills and steady demeanor provided ballasts to the top of the ticket. And pence his principled conservatism worked out over years and talk radio before entering politics reassured center right voters who worried that Trump’s National populism might run amok in the White House. Eight years later, the situation has changed. Trump and Pence have barely said a word to one another since the riot at the Capitol on January 6 2021. The former Vice President also made history in March when he said he would not endorse his former boss in this year’s election. Meanwhile, Trump seems uninterested in uniting the party behind him. He has done little to win over Nikki Haley voters in the suburbs and estates rights position on abortion may depress pro life voter turnout. Trump sees no reason to unify the Republican Party. He is the party. That is why the former President seems more interested in choosing a loyalist who looks good on television players in the Veep stakes. Let’s include Ohio Senator JD Vance, a leader in Trump’s Magga movement, as well as governor Kristi, noem of South Dakota, and Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota. Congresswoman Elise Stefanik of New York is on the list as his Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Two outsider candidates are former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, an online personality Tucker Carlson. Trump does have some political interests to consider. He has long wanted to increase his support among minority groups such as Hispanic voters and black men. Both voting bloc seem to be trending in his direction this year. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida is the son of Cuban immigrants who spent time growing up in Nevada. He comes up often during discussions of Trump’s running mate that Rubio faces a barrier to his election. The 12th Amendment to the Constitution forbids a president and vice president from residing in the same state. The Trump team is no doubt looking into a workaround, but there is no guarantee that they will find one. Trump is also considering Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina and Dr. Ben Carson, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is selected, they will be the first black Americans to appear on a Republican presidential ticket. Senator Scott’s advantage is that he’s likeable and inspiring. Dr. Carson strength is his low key presence and status as a Washington outsider. Vice Presidents may not matter much to electoral outcomes, but they do matter to media and cultural institutions, and thereby shape public perceptions of campaigns and parties. I would say the threat to a presidential candidate selecting someone the media for good or ill finds more interesting. So who will trump choose? I would also put former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Virginia Governor Glenn Younkin on Trump’s shortlist, but in the end, your guess is as good as mine. Just remember though, whoever Trump picks his vice president, he may want to leave space for a family member to succeed him.
Matthew Continetti
Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
Commentary
Our commentary partners will help you reach your own conclusions on complex topics.
Is the US looking for a war?
7 hrs ago
Peter Zeihan
How future generations could shift US support for Israel
Yesterday
Peter Zeihan
Why election of European Commission president is so important
Wednesday
Peter Zeihan
‘Both completely corrupt’: What Americans think of Biden, Trump
Tuesday
Dr. Frank Luntz
Who will Trump pick for vice presidential running mate?
Matthew Continetti
Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
By Straight Arrow News
Donald Trump is now clearly on track to run as the GOP candidate for president in the 2024 elections, regardless of how his various criminal trials proceed. What’s less clear is who else might run as his running mate for the position of vice president.
Straight Arrow News contributor Matthew Continetti reviews a list of eligible candidates for the GOP ticket and speculates about who Trump might pick and why.
Trump sees no reason to unify the Republican Party. He is the party. That is why the former president seems more interested in choosing a loyalist who looks good on television. Players in the VP stakes thus include Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, a leader in Trump’s MAGA movement, as well as Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota and Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota. Congresswoman Elise Stefanik of New York is on the list, as is Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Two outsider candidates are former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and online personality Tucker Carlson.
Trump does have some political interests to consider. He has long wanted to increase his support among minority groups such as Hispanic voters and Black men. Both voting blocs seem to be trending in his direction this year. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida is the son of Cuban immigrants who spent time growing up in Nevada. He comes up often during discussions of Trump’s running mate, but Rubio faces a barrier to his election. The 12th Amendment to the Constitution forbids a president and vice president from residing in the same state. The Trump team is no doubt looking into a workaround, but there is no guarantee that they will find one.
Trump is also considering Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina and Dr. Ben Carson, former secretary of housing and urban development. If selected, they will be the first Black Americans to appear on a Republican presidential ticket. Senator Scott’s advantage is that he’s likeable and inspiring. Dr. Carson’s strength is his low-key presence and status as a Washington outsider.
Joe Biden and Donald Trump squared off four years ago and are on track for the first major party rematch between a current and former president since 1892. Biden and Trump are the oldest presidential candidates in history, and each man has an established political brand. Biden first one federal office in 1972. And it has been over a decade since the GOP nominated someone other than Donald Trump. In other words, the 2024 election is a repeat. And yet, as familiar as the campaign may seem, there remain several unknowns. Foremost among them is the identity of Donald Trump’s running mate. Trump’s pick may not figure heavily in voters decisions this fall, but it will say something about where Trump wants the GOP to go in 2028 and beyond. When Trump picked Mike Pence in 2016, he was interested in uniting in the Republican Party. Pence was a successful two term governor of Indiana, who had served in Congress and had extensive ties to evangelical Christian voters who were reluctant at first to board the Trump Train. What’s more pensez communication skills and steady demeanor provided ballasts to the top of the ticket. And pence his principled conservatism worked out over years and talk radio before entering politics reassured center right voters who worried that Trump’s National populism might run amok in the White House. Eight years later, the situation has changed. Trump and Pence have barely said a word to one another since the riot at the Capitol on January 6 2021. The former Vice President also made history in March when he said he would not endorse his former boss in this year’s election. Meanwhile, Trump seems uninterested in uniting the party behind him. He has done little to win over Nikki Haley voters in the suburbs and estates rights position on abortion may depress pro life voter turnout. Trump sees no reason to unify the Republican Party. He is the party. That is why the former President seems more interested in choosing a loyalist who looks good on television players in the Veep stakes. Let’s include Ohio Senator JD Vance, a leader in Trump’s Magga movement, as well as governor Kristi, noem of South Dakota, and Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota. Congresswoman Elise Stefanik of New York is on the list as his Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Two outsider candidates are former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, an online personality Tucker Carlson. Trump does have some political interests to consider. He has long wanted to increase his support among minority groups such as Hispanic voters and black men. Both voting bloc seem to be trending in his direction this year. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida is the son of Cuban immigrants who spent time growing up in Nevada. He comes up often during discussions of Trump’s running mate that Rubio faces a barrier to his election. The 12th Amendment to the Constitution forbids a president and vice president from residing in the same state. The Trump team is no doubt looking into a workaround, but there is no guarantee that they will find one. Trump is also considering Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina and Dr. Ben Carson, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is selected, they will be the first black Americans to appear on a Republican presidential ticket. Senator Scott’s advantage is that he’s likeable and inspiring. Dr. Carson strength is his low key presence and status as a Washington outsider. Vice Presidents may not matter much to electoral outcomes, but they do matter to media and cultural institutions, and thereby shape public perceptions of campaigns and parties. I would say the threat to a presidential candidate selecting someone the media for good or ill finds more interesting. So who will trump choose? I would also put former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Virginia Governor Glenn Younkin on Trump’s shortlist, but in the end, your guess is as good as mine. Just remember though, whoever Trump picks his vice president, he may want to leave space for a family member to succeed him.
What kind of leader America needs
The American public remains divided and unhappy about the state of the country leading up to the next presidential election, and former President Donald Trump now holds a narrow lead in the matchup against President Biden. While Biden portrays Trump as a threat to American democracy, voters in key states ironically trust the former president…
Jun 27
NATO is stronger now than ever before
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has been called the most powerful military alliance in world history, and serves as the bedrock of military security for Europeans, Americans and allied populations around the globe. The importance of the alliance has been reiterated by recent events, namely Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and increasing threats from China.…
May 23
Education, income becoming key variables in elections
Education, income level, geography, race and ethnicity are all key variables in estimating who voters might support. But the importance of these variables has changed in recent elections, as America’s demography, culture and political movements continue to evolve. Straight Arrow News contributor Matthew Continetti argues that education and income level have become more important than…
Mar 21
If we’re lucky, AOC and the Squad are on their way out
The Squad, comprised of eight left-wing House Democrats, has been openly critical of Israel both before and during Israel’s war with Hamas. As primaries approach, some of these House members are facing challenging political races. Straight Arrow News contributor Matthew Continetti delves into the backlash against the Squad and hopes its members will face a…
Feb 22
Underreported stories from each side
Group accuses Pa. teachers union of illegally using money to back Shapiro’s 2022 campaign
8 sources | 0% from the left
Getty Images
Some House Republicans slam Vance as Trump’s VP pick: ‘The worst choice’
8 sources | 0% from the right
Reuters
Latest Stories
Congress still trying to figure out how to reduce wasteful military spending
Watch 2:29
2 hrs ago
US Navy, Air Force making waves with new weapons at RIMPAC
Watch 6:03
2 hrs ago
Israeli PM Netanyahu meets with Trump at Mar-a-Lago
Watch 2:54
2 hrs ago
Growing US nuclear power resurgence reaches the nation’s heartland
Watch 1:19
2 hrs ago
Beer from the sun, other solar thermal projects get government funding
Watch 2:04
3 hrs ago
Popular Opinions
In addition to the facts, we believe it’s vital to hear perspectives from all sides of the political spectrum.
Trump has an excellent opportunity with Black voters
8 hrs ago
Star Parker
Don’t fall for GOP’s cheap racist attacks on Kamala Harris
9 hrs ago
Dr. Rashad Richey
Americans must reject Trump to defend our democracy
Yesterday
Jordan Reid
Why all the changes in European parliamentary governments?
Wednesday
Newt Gingrich