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Editor’s observe: That is the second in a sequence of profiles of potential working mates for presidential candidate Donald Trump on the 2024 Republican Get together ticket.
A potential frontrunner on former President Trump’s working mate shortlist has a serious “draw back” that would make his potential choice a nasty wager, a number of marketing campaign and election consultants informed Fox Information Digital.
The horse race amongst these hoping to be named Trump’s working mate continued this week. These extensively believed to be on the shortlist made the rounds on varied media shops and at occasions alongside the previous president, together with North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who some say lacks a “wow issue.”
“He is not a identified commodity. He is not any person that, I believe, instinctively would fireplace up the bottom or fireplace up Republicans,” GOP strategist Dave Polyansky mentioned, citing issues over Burgum’s lack of identify recognition regardless of working within the Republican presidential primaries final 12 months.
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From left to proper: Ohio Sen. JD Vance, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum. (Getty Photographs)
He argued that, though firing up the bottom wasn’t the principle objective in a selection for working mate, there was no “overwhelming cry” from Republicans throughout the nation for Burgum to be the choose.
“Once more, that should not essentially be a decider, however there isn’t any wow issue to him,” Polyansky mentioned.
Veteran Republican strategist Karl Rove agreed Burgum’s identify recognition was additionally an issue and that he is “from a small, closely Republican state” when the battle for the presidency might come right down to who wins over voters within the battlegrounds of Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Wisconsin.
Rove additionally predicted Burgum’s wealth might “make him a goal for the left.”
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Republican strategist Erin Perrine informed Fox “the downsides to Burgum’s choice are usually not deeply controversial given different potential choices the previous president might make” however agreed with Rove that Burgum hailing from a reliably crimson state with a small inhabitants would not affect the electoral map.
“Some may argue that different potential candidates might carry extra experience, larger visibility or range to the ticket, resulting in doubts about Burgum’s suitability as a VP nominee,” she mentioned. She added Burgum declaring final 12 months he would not function Trump’s working mate, in addition to the likelihood he may face intensified media scrutiny concerning his absence from North Dakota over the previous 12 months, would doubtless complicate his choice.
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum encourages voters to assist Republican presidential candidate and former President Trump throughout a marketing campaign rally within the basement ballroom of The Margate Resort Jan. 22, 2024, in Laconia, N.H. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Photographs)
“It doesn’t take a lot for the media to pounce, and campaigning as a sitting governor has confirmed tough for others working for different places of work earlier than,” she mentioned.
Others had been extra blunt when it got here to the potential of Burgum’s choice, together with a supply near the Trump marketing campaign who mentioned there was “extra draw back than upside there,” citing the issues over his identify recognition and being from North Dakota.
“If I needed to rank him, I would put him within the high 5, possibly 5 – 6, however not any larger,” the supply mentioned.
GOP pollster Scott Rasmussen merely informed Fox, “I see no purpose why Gov. Burgum ought to even be within the dialogue aside from media hypothesis. The truth that Trump featured him on the current rally is fascinating, however I think the governor will play another function within the marketing campaign.”
Burgum, regardless of these issues, does have a lot of sturdy qualities consultants mentioned might present a lift to Trump, together with his file because the chief govt of a state and as a enterprise chief.
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Former President Trump, a Republican presidential candidate, attends the annual Lincoln Reagan Dinner hosted by the Minnesota Republican Get together Might 17, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (Scott Olson/Getty Photographs)
“Burgum is a profitable two-term governor of a serious energy- and agricultural-producing state who’s championed training reform, tax cuts and authorities reform,” Rove mentioned. “He’s additionally constructed a tech firm — Nice Plains Software program — within the Midwest heartland, which he bought to Microsoft, turning into a high govt with the corporate earlier than getting into politics.”
Polyansky mentioned probably the most “compelling” causes to have Burgum’s identify on the ticket was due to his tv presence.
“He is confirmed himself during the last month to be an excellent, very agile and fairly efficient communicator,” he mentioned. “Burgum’s proven that he can do some good when it comes to his potential to speak and drive a message.”
Perrine mentioned Burgum’s “no-drama, no-nonsense demeanor has boosted the economic system and security of North Dakota,” and that being a “businessman-turned-governor” was “a mirror to Trump that the previous president would admire.”
The supply near Trump’s marketing campaign praised the governor as “a vote getter.”
“He is an honest man,” the supply mentioned.
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From left to proper: Home GOP Convention Chair Elise Stefanik, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina. All have been floated as potential vice presidential working mates for former President Trump. (Getty Photographs)
Various different huge names have additionally been floated to hitch Trump on the Republican ticket, together with South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Home GOP Convention Chair Elise Stefanik, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Ohio Sen. JD Vance and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.
Trump, who spent most of his week sitting on trial in a New York Metropolis courtroom whereas President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are free to hit the marketing campaign path, remains to be weighing his working mate choices. He instructed final week he may even wait till the July Republican Nationwide Conference in Milwaukee to call his choose.
Fox Information Digital has reached out to representatives of Burgum for remark.
Get the newest updates from the 2024 marketing campaign path, unique interviews and extra at our Fox Information Digital election hub.
Brandon Gillespie is an affiliate editor at Fox Information. Comply with him on X at @BGillespieAL.
Consultants reveal main ‘draw back’ to potential Trump VP choose: ‘No wow issue’
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