The countdown until President Donald Trump reveals his vice presidential pick is on, and the speculation about who it will be is ramping up.
On Wednesday, The Wall Street Journalâs editorial board weighed in on a list of Republicans rumored to be under consideration for a spot on the ticket.
âThe polls in the presidential race have tightened since Donald Trumpâs conviction in New York, which raises the stakes for Mr. Trump in Thursdayâs debate and for his choice of a running mate. Both will have to appeal to the swing voters who have been moving back to President Biden,â Journal said. âMr. Trumpâs rallies are for his MAGA base, but those voters arenât up for grabs. Theyâd turn out for him in a hurricane. The reason Mr. Trump lost in 2020, and the reason he isnât leading by more now, is because many independents and suburban Republicans donât want four more years of constant drama and political division.â
The op-ed suggested such Republicans like the former presidentâs policies but âthey donât trust his character and they dislike his Fight Club persona.â
Additionally, it argued the debate and Trumpâs vice presidential pick are âopportunities to reassureâ voters who are not âpreoccupied with Politics.â
Warning of a âtrapâ for Trump, the Journal noted Biden and the debate moderators may âtry to goad by focusing on the Jan. 6 riot, his felony conviction in New York, his claim that the election was stolen, and other low Trump moments.â
âMr. Trump may be tempted to take the bait. The former President likes to brawl and scrap, which is fine if heâs talking about inflation, chaos at the border, taxes, and the march of American adversaries on Mr. Bidenâs watch. But Mr. Biden wants the debate to be about whether 2020 was stolen or if the rioters who fought with police are âhostages,â as Mr. Trump has said,â it added.
Turning back to the matter of his running mate, the Journal recalled it believed former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley would help broaden the former presidentâs appeal, but admitted he does not seem too eager to embrace her after her primary challenge.
The op-ed then highlighted Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) as someone who could âsignal to college-educated Republicans with doubts about Mr. Trump that he wants to expand the GOP. Many voters would think: Thatâs interesting. He chose someone who clearly could be a future President.â
Focusing on the list that has been circulating of potential running mates, including Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, the Journal said, âIf thatâs the field, Mr. Burgum is the best man.â
âThe Governor has executive experience and was a highly successful tech CEO. At Microsoft, which bought his company, he managed to work well with Steve Ballmer, which isnât easy,âthe op-ed arguedâMr. Burgum would be loyal to Mr. Trump, while also unafraid to offer hard advice or speak an unhappy truth when the moment demands it. His global business experience gives him an edge in world affairs, especially China.â
In terms of Rubio and Vance, the Journal said they â bring much less to the ticket.â In a brutal assessment, it called the Ohio senator a âyoung man in a seeming hurry to be Don Jr.â
âOn foreign policy, Mr. Vance was a political opportunist in opposing military aid to Ukraine with arguments that ignore the menacing axis of Russia, Iran and China. He opposes Nippon Steelâs offer for U.S. Steel in fealty to union leaders, though Japanese investment is a plus for American workers,â the op-ed continued.
Of Rubio, the Journal wrote, âThe union label also applies to Mr. Rubio, who has remade himself from a tea party insurgent in 2010 into an advocate of industrial policy and redistributing income through the tax code. He voted against aid to Ukraine despite a career of hawkish foreign policy stances.â
Finally, it asked, âWould either Senator tell Mr. Trump the truth in a crisis?â
Trump has said he has decided âin my mindâ who he will pick for his running mate, and that they will be at the upcoming presidential debate.