Trump Mentions Two Former 2016 Contenders as Possible VP Picks

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump listed a few of his fellow 2016 rivals as possible running mates in an interview published Monday.

Speaking to columnist Kirsten Powers, Trump spoke favorably about Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) who he famously feuded with before defeating him in his home state....

“There are people I have in mind in terms of vice president. I just haven’t told anybody names,” he said. “[I] do like Marco. I do like (John) Kasich. … I like (Scott) Walker actually in a lot of ways. I hit him very hard. … But I’ve always liked him.”

Agreed. The only thing either Cruz or Rubio can offer at this point is their delegates. Trump will carry TX and FL no matter who is his VP. He gets TX because, as Newt Gingrich observed today "Any republican who can't carry TX shouldn't be running" and FL because it's Trump's second home and he has a huge presence there. (There's a reason South Florida is often called the "sixth borough" of NYC).

Kasich currently has 143 delegates and will undoubtedly net gain more than Cruz through the end of April so that total will grow. In the general Kasich would be an asset while Cruz at this point would likely be a liability and Rubio neutral to mildly positive.

The relationship between Presidents and their VPs go through three phases: getting the nomination, winning the election, and then governing. Both Cruz and Kasich have a lot of currency for phase 1, while Kasich is the clear choice for phase 2. For phase 3 you have to consider Cruz' track record in being able to work with his colleagues. It's not clear he'd fare any better as VP than he did as Junior Senator from TX. Kasich would clearly be "back home" and as long as he's just saluting policy originating from the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue I don't think there's much to worry about. Whether he'd stay on the ticket in 2020 is too soon to tell, but in 2024 he'll be 72 and it's not clear he'd be up for running for the top job then anyway.

Trump needs a foot soldier, not another general, which is why I think Kasich has the current inside track to be his running mate.

Any republican who can't carry TX shouldn't be running"

That may not be true for much longer. In 10 years, your typical Texas politician will be more like Julian Castro and his La Raza pals than like Bruce Alger. The only thing keeping Texas from being a "purple" state rather than a Republican shoe-in today is low voter registration and turnout among Hispanics, especially in border regions.

That depends entirely on what we do about uncontrolled illegal immigration. If Hillary gets in after another 8 years of open border policies we may well be past the demographic tipping point. We're perilously close now, which is why illegal immigration is The issue for this election. If we don't address that pronto nothing else will matter since the slide towards socialism and dissolution will be irreversible short of CW II.

This is going to sound weird... but Jeb Bush could be the right choice.

Why?

Jeb’s honorable - if he accepted the role of VP he would work for and with Trump on Trump’s agenda.

His ‘low energy’ would go away when his depression lifted - besides the VP slot is NOT for high energy people.

Jeb knows how to work with the GOPe (duh) - and this choice would unite the party. In one move this totally defangs the GOPe.

He’s qualified to be President.

He’s great on ‘details’... Trump’s ‘big picture’ - Jeb’s ‘little picture - done perfectly’...

He’s loyal - would not be working against Trump behind his back...

AND best - Jeb’s ideas would be put on the back burner while he was assisting with the Trump Administration.

That said, Newt would be more fun... and Newt has an interesting historical slant... Also Trump might enjoy Newt more... it’s a toss up.

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