Trump’s search for a running mate has focused on three names: North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance. Trump’s campaign had previously said that “the top criteria in selecting a vice president is a strong leader who will make a great president for eight years after his next four-year term concludes.”
Such guidelines appeared to give an edge to Rubio, 53, and Vance, 39, over the 67-year-old Burgum.
As the youngest and closest to the far-right forces in the former president’s orbit, Vance appears best positioned to campaign as an heir to Trump’s MAGA movement, if that is the former president’s preference. Rubio’s proximity to donors and the governing class is viewed as stabilizing to Republicans in Washington, while Trump’s continued fixation on Burgum suggests he may be more interested in casting for the role of running mate than in picking a successor.
When to unveil that pick, though, has become a moving target, particularly given the overwhelming focus on Biden. Another wave of reaction from Democrats about their nominee’s fitness for the office is expected Monday when members of Congress return from recess. Biden, meanwhile, is participating in a NATO summit this week in Washington and is scheduled to hold a news conference Thursday where he is certain to face questions about his future.
Trump’s campaign views Monday, July 15 – the opening night of the Republican convention in Milwaukee – as the deadline to present his vice presidential choice.
With party business planned for that morning, the announcement could come just before the official nomination.