We're still months from when presidential nominees have historically selected their running mates. However, that is not stopping speculation on who presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump will choose as his vice-presidential nominee.
According to a Politico report published Sunday, vetting is underway at Mar-a-Lago and is led by Trump adviser Susie Wiles.
Wiles may be a familiar name for Alabama political watchers for her role in former U.S. ambassador to Slovenia Lindy Blanchard's 2022 gubernatorial campaign.
Among the names in the Politico piece by Meredith McGraw, Natalie Allison and Burgess Everett are U.S. Sens. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Govs. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.), Sarah Sanders (R-Ark.) and Doug Burgum (R-N.D.), U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), and Alabama's junior U.S. Senator, Katie Britt (R-Montgomery).
However, in that same report, Trump ally U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) seems to dismiss those names as "propaganda."
“He’ll ask you about people,” Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), said in an interview.
The senator cautioned that those names being promoted by Trump allies or political consultants should be treated skeptically. “All I can tell you is, if you’re hearing any names, it ain’t going to be them. It’s all propaganda.”
The former football coach said all the name-floating felt familiar: “Like football coaches whenever there’s a job opening, my agent always put my name in there to get me a raise, get me publicity and all that.” Tuberville echoed Trump’s own advisers, who have expressed annoyance at some of the behind-the-scenes maneuverings of consultants.
The Politico report also suggests Britt's State of the Union response is working against her.
One Republican strategist close to Trump’s campaign said each candidate comes with their own set of baggage: “There’s no one that checks every single box that they’re looking for.” Britt, for one, had a widely panned State of the Union rebuttal, Noem just made a strange advertisement for veneers, and several hopefuls have come across to Trump as too eager, according to two people close to Trump.
Jeff Poor is the editor in chief of 1819 News and host of "The Jeff Poor Show," heard Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon on Mobile's FM Talk 106.5. To connect or comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com or follow him on Twitter @jeff_poor.
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