The late Vice President in Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s first two terms, John Nance Gardner of Texas, was reported to have said, “The Vice Presidency ain’t worth a warm pitcher of spit (or maybe this was a euphemism for a term that rhymes with ‘spit’).” And so it’s been: look at past nominees for the office: Spiro Agnew (R, 1968 and 1972); Sargent Shriver (D, 1972); Bob Dole (R, 1976); Dan Quayle (R, 1988 and 1992); Lloyd Bentsen (D, 1988); Jack Kemp (R, 1996); John Edwards (D, 2004); Sarah Palin (R, 2008); Paul Ryan (R, 2012); Tim Kaine (D, 2020) — none made much difference. In some cases (notably Palin) they damaged the one at the top of the ticket.
2024 may be different if for no other reason than that Joe Biden is 80 years old and Donald Trump is 76, thus meaning there’s a greater chance the Veep may more likely become President through the death of the President.
The Hill published this story on December 2, 2023:
Trump’s VP: Ranking the candidates from most likely to least
BY BRETT SAMUELS - 12/02/23 4:01 PM ET
Here’s my take on possible Trump picks:
1. J.D. Vance: An up-and-comer. Represents a major state, Ohio. Smart and shrewd. Probably Trump’s best option. But his opponent would make mincemeat out of him in the Veep Debate. Trump would probably prefer a nonentity.
2. Sarah Huckabee Sanders: Not likely. Even Trump isn’t that stupid. Plus, now scandal ridden due to Podium Gate.
3. Marjorie Taylor Green: Most likely included only to throw red meat to the base. Too much a loose cannon.
4. Kristi Noem: More likely. Again, the Dem Nominee would eviscerate her.
5. Byron Donalds: An intriguing gamble. Could help Trump, bring more African American men. But untested. Also, The constitution specifies the Presidential and Vice Presidential Nominees must be from different states. That’s easily solved, though, as in 2000 both George W. Bush and Dick Cheney were Texas Residents. They solved that by having Cheney become a Wyoming resident again. In this case, Trump could move back to New York, or maybe New Jersey or Virginia.
6. Elise Stefanik: Not likely. She can’t deliver New York’s electoral votes. Still, a better choice than Sanders or Greene.
7. Mike Pompeo: Could keep the Religious Right engaged. Quite possible. Also untested.
Samuels also mentions Tim Scott, Nikki Haley, and Vivek Ramaswarmy. All unlikely given Trump’s ire for their challenging him this year. Still, anything’s possible.
The Democrats:
Biden is committed to keeping Kamala Harris. Still, given how the polls go, he could conceivably replace her by making her The Attorney General. Then, who knows? Leticia James? Amy Klobuchar? Gavin Newson? Or Liz Cheney for a “National Unity” ticket? Hopefully not Tim Kaine again.
Whatever, Trump’s short list is not impressive. I remain hopeful Biden will prevail no matter how this goes. I see Vance or Pompeo as most likely, for now.
