Four of the top choices of running mates for former President Donald Trump are not on his short list, leading some supporters to believe that his list is either a head fake or that he is letting revenge guide his decision.
In the latest I&I/TIPP Poll just released this morning, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, and Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) are the top four choices among Republican voters to run for vice president.
Three ran against Trump — DeSantis, Haley, and Ramaswamy — said difficult things about him, and are off his short list. Abbott has also clashed with Trump, though they have recently joined tightly on closing the border.
None received a package sent out by Trump’s team vetting potential running mates, according to reports.
Asked for their first pick, Republicans listed their top four choices in this order:
— DeSantis 14%.
— Haley 11%.
— Ramaswamy 8%.
— Abbott 7%.
The survey analysis picked up on the concerns about Trump’s list.
“Will Trump seek a running mate who in the White House will provide him with strong political and policy backing, and serve as a sounding board? Or will Trump, with his keen deal-making acumen and go-it-alone bravado, be open to selecting someone with selective demographic appeal to help with outreach to groups to win the election, but then give him or her little to do as vice president?” it asked.
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Trump has planned to make his announcement soon, but recently said that he would wait for the Republican National Convention, the traditional time for presidential nominees to roll out their No. 2.
Republican nominees have a history of picking running mates that have needled them. Notably, former President Ronald Reagan picked George H.W. Bush even though Bush called Reagan’s economic plan “voodoo economics.”
