Would Donald Trump Pick Arizona’s Kari Lake for Vice President? – Could there be two election losers who deny the voting results on the same presidential ballot?
That is one scenario for the Republican ticket in 2024.
This would mean Donald Trump winning his party’s nomination and picking failed Arizona governor candidate Kari Lake as his running mate.
It’s early in the process and presidential candidates usually do not select a running mate until the summer before the election, which would mean we have almost a year and a half before Trump would make that choice.
Potential Woman VP Picks
Donald Trump may want a woman on the ballot and that could be former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who was also a member of the Trump administration as UN ambassador.
So, Haley could be a pick for vice president depending on how well she runs as a presidential candidate.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem could also be a plausible choice should Trump decide to choose a woman for his running mate.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders could also be a potential pick.
Some Conservatives Prefer Lake
However, the Republican base appears to support Kari Lake for vice president over Haley.
In a straw poll at the conservative forum CPAC held recently the attendees preferred Lake to Haley by a margin of 20 percent to 10 percent for vice president. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis scored 14 percent.
Lake Has Electability Problems
Lake has a shrill and divisive personality although many on the right think that she has what it takes for higher office. But she has never won an election.
Her background is not running large organizations. It is serving as a long-lasting television news anchor. Her communication skills are undeniable, but she doesn’t look to unify the Republican party. She has made her disdain for the late Senator John McCain clear. Moderate Republicans or “Republicans in Name Only” are not welcome under the Lake banner. The same goes for Trump who hates RINOs too.
With this kind of divide-and-conquer strategy it is difficult to see a scenario in which Trump and Lake would have a general election appeal, especially since they are kicking Republicans out of the tent.
Both Blame Voter Fraud for Their Losses
Like Trump, Lake believes she is a victim of voter fraud from defective voting machines that stunted her election performance in Maricopa County where Phoenix is located. Lake is also a huge Trump supporter and that is an important box to check.
Donald Trump Campaign Throws Cold Water at VP Speculation
But a Trump spokesman said it is way too early to speculate on who Trump would pick to join him on the ticket.
“Anyone who thinks they know what President Trump is going to do is seriously misinformed and trying to curry favor with ‘potential’ VP candidates,” press secretary for the campaign Steven Cheung said. “President Trump will choose his running mate on his own time, and those who are playing the media game are doing so at their own peril,” he added.
Trump Needs to Win Nomination First
Nevertheless, Lake and Haley would be seen as the front runners if Trump would want to pick his VP choice now, but this, of course, is premature. Trump hasn’t won the primary and there is a long road ahead of him, even though he is leading in most polls for the Republican nomination.
What If Lake Runs for U.S. Senate?
Lake is certainly a valuable ally for Donald Trump, but is she the right choice for VP? Time will tell.
Lake could also decide to run for the U.S. Senate in 2024 and that would remove her from the running. That would leave Haley, Noem, and Sanders as women candidates for Trump to choose from.
The Republicans could use a female presence on the ballot. The party doesn’t always perform well with young, college-educated, single women or woman voters in suburbs. So, the party has work to do to increase its appeal and that is why Trump could choose a woman for the ticket when it is time for selection in the summer of 2024.
Author Expertise and Experience:
Serving as 19FortyFive’s Defense and National Security Editor, Dr. Brent M. Eastwood is the author of Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare. He is an Emerging Threats expert and former U.S. Army Infantry officer. You can follow him on Twitter @BMEastwood. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science and Foreign Policy/ International Relations.
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