Written by George William @GeorgeWill2324
As we draw closer and closer to the conventions, the topic of nomination for VP becomes louder and louder. Especially as the VP for the current President is the most likely person to replace him in either the race or the Presidency as a whole. While less discussed, buried down underneath, are similar concerns about the longevity of the Republican nominee, adding a dynamic to the selection that hasn’t been a concern for a long time.
The current field of picks include Marco Rubio, JD Vance and Doug Burgum. We must ask ourselves, what makes them contenders and why Burgum is the best choice.
Marco Rubio
- Rubio being Hispanic could help Trump reach those voters who increasingly are trending Republican.
- He could help Trump win over voters who have cast ballots for Nikki Haley in the primary being more of a Neocon type.
- Rubio’s considerable foreign policy experience could be an asset with the state of the world as it is.
- Because both Trump and Rubio live in Florida, under the U.S. Constitution the state’s GOP delegates can’t vote for them both. That means Rubio likely would have to move. Trump has mentioned this as a concern.
- Some in Trump’s base still are suspicious of Rubio because of his nasty 2016 primary fight with Trump.
- Florida isn’t considered a battleground state anymore, so selecting the senator wouldn’t help Trump carry a key swing state.
JD Vance
- Vance is one of Trump’s staunchest defenders. He appears on mainstream media outlets in support of Trump and attack his detractors.
- He articulates the message of Trumps base in a persuasive way, which could serve him well in a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris.
- Vance outlined his story in his memoir “Hillbilly Elegy” which could be compelling to swing voters. The story also increased his national profile.
- Vance is from Ohio, which is no longer considered a swing state. Trump won the state in 2016 and 2020, and doesn’t need a VP nominee to make inroads with voters there.
Doug Burgum
- His mild-mannered temperament poses no risk of stealing attention from the former president. In 2016, Trump showed his preference for a low-key VP when he picked Mike Pence.
- Burgum would do little to expand Trump’s reach, and he wouldn’t be the most popular choice among the MAGA base. Burgum’s state of North Dakota is solidly red.
- He has few connections to Washington, no foreign policy experience, and until recently, few Republican voters knew who he was.
- Burgum is 67 years old. While not a spring chicken compared to the other contenders, he is significantly younger than the two men running for President and more in line with the historical age for office.
Out of these three men, I believe it is obvious why Burgum is the correct choice for VP. Primarily, he’s quiet and unassuming. While Trump can be good on policy and make good staffing decisions as was shown in his first term, at the end of the day he’s still a prideful man. He runs towards and captures cameras. I’d say that’s the main reason why he chose Pence the first time. His inroads with Evangelical votes was simply a bonus.
Secondly, with his unfamiliarity, that makes him appealing to undecided voters compared to the off-putting nature of Trump.
Thirdly, as stated before, his age. He strikes a sound balance between the higher and lower extremes of both the other candidates and the contenders for President. People may be tired of the upper limits of age that are being pushed by those in political office, but they also tend to be weary of those at the opposite end of the spectrum. Viewing them as foolish and inexperienced. Burgum while older is still at a very healthy and durable age for if the worst should befall Trump.
Finally, if you recall the Republican Primary Debates, while Burgum got perhaps the least amount of screen time, he used it to the best of his advantage. There was not a single bad position he took. While, all the focus was on DeSantis, Haley and Vivek, Burgum was making the most sound policy arguments I’ve ever heard. If it is true that Trump only makes good policy decisions because of having good people around him, them Burgum is the clear standout on this front.
With all of this taken into consideration, not only do I think Burgum is the front runner in the VP race but the clear and sound choice. There are only benefits to be gained. While there may be better gains with the other two options, there are also greater risks. JD being more divisive adding to Trumps already difficult nature to voters. Rubio, being a contenious decision among the Trump base. With Burgum I can’t foresee any downsides to him being the future Vice President of the United States.