Donald Trump has a shortlist for his running mate in this presidential election. Among the frontrunners are Newt Gingrich, who burned bridges with Fox News as a result. In the meantime, Indiana governor Mike Pence is also at the top of Trump’s list, after giving a nice speech about the candidate during a rally and fundraiser. As for who he’ll actually choose though, the decision may come down to who can protect Trump more from criticism, or “bullying.”
According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump claims, “I’m getting attacked from all sides.” And he wants his running mate to be an “attack dog,” so that his campaign can continue to go after Democratic opponents without Trump having to do the dirty work himself, as he did during the primaries. This requirement favors Gingrich, as well as New Jersey governor and former Trump opponent Chris Christie:
That plays to the strengths of Messrs. Christie and Gingrich, feisty and combative politicians that Mr. Trump called “two extraordinary warriors.” Saying that personal chemistry is also important, Mr. Trump said, “You either have it or you don’t. I clearly have it with Chris and Newt.”
Trump apparently has doubts about Pence’s “fighting spirit,” and their rapport, so hopefully the governor has tried to demonstrate that while he has the Republican nominee’s attention. While general election polling results have been all over the place, with Trump behind Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton by 12 points in one poll, and by only two in others, many voters credit Trump with fostering the negative tone of the election. So far, Trump has taken the step to remedy this by firing his controversial campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, and choosing the right attack-dog veep might be his next one.
(via Wall Street Journal)