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Editor’s notice: That is the second in a collection of profiles of potential working mates for presidential candidate Donald Trump on the 2024 Republican Social gathering ticket.
A possible front-runner on former President Trump’s shortlist has a significant “drawback” that might 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 grow to be Trump’s working mate continued this week. These extensively believed to have been shortlisted made the rounds in varied media shops and at occasions alongside the previous president, together with North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, who some say lacks a “wow issue.”
“He is not a recognized asset. He is not somebody who, I believe, would instinctively inflame the bottom or the Republicans,” stated GOP strategist Dave Polyansky, citing issues about Burgum’s lack of identify recognition regardless of his participation in final 12 months’s Republican presidential primaries . .
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From left to proper: Senator JD Vance of Ohio, Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, Sarah Sanders, Governor of Arkansas, and Doug Burgum, Governor of North Dakota. (Getty Photos)
He argued that whereas igniting the bottom wasn’t the principle objective in selecting a working mate, there wasn’t an “overwhelming clamor” from Republicans throughout the nation to pick Burgum because the choose.
“Once more, that should not essentially be the deciding issue, however there isn’t any wow issue for him,” Polyansky stated.
Veteran Republican strategist Karl Rove agreed that Burgum’s identify recognition was additionally an issue and that he comes “from a small, closely Republican state” whereas the battle for the presidency may come right down to who wins over voters on the battlegrounds of Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Nevada. and Wisconsin.
Rove additionally predicted that Burgum’s wealth “may make him a goal for the left.”
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Republican strategist Erin Perrine informed Fox “the downsides of Burgum’s choice usually are not very controversial given different doable choices the previous president may make,” however agreed with Rove that Burgum, coming from a reliably purple state with a small inhabitants, would haven’t any affect on the electoral map.
“Some would possibly argue that different potential candidates may deliver extra experience, higher visibility or range to the ticket, elevating questions on Burgum’s suitability as a VP nominee,” she stated. She added that Burgum acknowledged final 12 months that he wouldn’t function Trump’s working mate, and that the likelihood that he would face elevated media consideration relating to his absence from North Dakota over the previous 12 months would doubtless make his choice would make it tough.
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 on January 22, 2024 in Laconia, NH (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Photos)
“It would not take a lot for the media to pounce, and campaigning as an incumbent governor has confirmed tough earlier than for others working for different places of work,” she stated.
Others have been extra blunt when it got here to the opportunity of Burgum’s choice, together with a supply near the Trump marketing campaign who stated there have been “extra cons than execs,” citing issues about his identify recognition and his North Dakota heritage.
“If I needed to rank him, I’d put him within the high 5, possibly 5 or 6, however not increased,” the supply stated.
Republican pollster Scott Rasmussen merely informed Fox, “I do not see any cause why Governor Burgum ought to even be concerned within the dialogue, aside from media hypothesis. The truth that Trump offered him on the latest assembly is fascinating, however I believe the governor will play a special position. position within the marketing campaign.”
Regardless of these issues, Burgum has quite a few sturdy qualities that consultants say may increase Trump, together with his document as a state government 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 Republican Social gathering of Minnesota on Might 17, 2024 in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Scott Olson/Getty Photos)
“Burgum is a profitable two-term governor of a significant vitality and agriculture producing state who champions training reform, tax cuts and authorities reform,” Rove stated. “He additionally based a know-how firm – Nice Plains Software program – within the Midwest, which he offered to Microsoft, turning into a high government on the firm earlier than getting into politics.”
Polyansky stated some of the “compelling” causes to have Burgum’s identify on the ticket was his tv presence.
“He has confirmed during the last month to be an excellent, very agile and fairly efficient communicator,” he stated. “Burgum has proven that he can do one thing good in terms of his skill to speak and get a message throughout.”
Perrine stated Burgum’s “no-drama, no-nonsense angle has boosted North Dakota’s financial system and safety,” and that the truth that he was 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’s a good man,” the supply stated.
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From left to proper: Home Republican Social gathering Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott. They’ve all been prompt as doable vice presidential working mates for former President Trump. (Getty Photos)
A variety of different large names have additionally been prompt to affix Trump on the Republican ticket, together with South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, Home GOP Convention Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, Governor of South Dakota Kristi Noem, Senator JD Vance of Ohio and Senator Marco Rubio of Florida.
Trump, who spent most of his week on trial in a New York Metropolis courtroom whereas President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have been free to marketing campaign, continues to be weighing his working mate choices. He prompt final week that he would possibly even wait till July’s Republican Nationwide Conference in Milwaukee to make his alternative.
Fox Information Digital has reached out to Burgum’s representatives for remark.
Get the newest updates from the 2024 marketing campaign path, unique interviews and extra on our Fox Information Digital election hub.
Brandon Gillespie is an affiliate editor at Fox Information. Observe him on X at @BGillespieAL.
Specialists reveal a significant ‘drawback’ of the doable alternative for Trump VP: ‘No wow issue’
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