Asked by a reporter about his pick, Trump said Saturday his running mate will “most likely” attend the debate in Atlanta.
Trump has said in past weeks the nominee will be named at the Republican National Convention, which is July 15-18. That announcement is now expected to come much sooner according to an NBC News story, published Wednesday, that cites people involved in Trump’s campaign.
A USA Today article published in June cited a whopping 19 possible names, but media sources and political analysts are floating three top names for the nominee: Sen. JD Vance of Ohio; Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida; and North Dakota’s governor, Doug Burgum.
Other possible names being discussed – especially on social media – are Vivek Ramaswamy and Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the Arkansas governor.
Asked about Trump’s choice of candidates, AFR radio host Jenna Ellis tells AFN she believes Gov. Sanders is his best choice.
“She hits all the right points that Trump needs in a V.P.,” Ellis says, “young, female, solidly conservative, Christian, and great spokesperson.”
Sanders, 41, is currently serving her first term as Arkansas governor after working in the White House as President Trump’s first press secretary.
A former Arkansas governor, Bill Clinton, was elected president in 1992 at age 46.
Trump is struggling to woo female voters and younger voters, Ellis says, so Sanders on the ticket would help him with both demographics.
Ellis says other good picks for V.P. are Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Dr. Ben Carson, and Ramaswamy.
Gary Bauer, of the Campaign for Working Families, tells AFN Gov. DeSantis, Sen. Rubio, and Sen. Vance are top picks for Trump.
Whoever is chosen by Trump is an important pick, Bauer points out, because a future President Trump will serve only one term.
“The vice president under Donald Trump,” Bauer says, “will have the inside track to be the next Republican nominee for president.”
“The vice presidential pick for both sides is critical this election cycle,” Ellis similarly observes, “since both presidential candidates will be past 80 years old by the end of their term.”
Ellis, who worked as a personal attorney for Trump, predicts her former boss “is considering everyone until the moment he announces his decision.”
Editor's Note: American Family Radio is a division of the American Family Association, the parent organization of the American Family News Network, which operates AFN.net.
