EXCLUSIVEAs Donald Trump weighs his VP pick, new Daily Mail poll reveals who VOTERS want to see on the GOP ticket
- Donald Trump is reported to have narrowed his pick to three possible names
- READ MORE: Follow today's developments in our politics live blog here
Senator Tim Scott has topped Dailymail.com's poll of the possible vice president picks for Donald Trump.
Aides have let it be known that Doug Burgum, North Dakota governor, Sen. Marco Rubio and Sen. J.D. Vance are on a shortlist of three as they tease his announcement ahead of the Republican Party convention next week.
But Dailymail.com's poll of 1,000 likely voters puts a surprising name at the centre of the mix, with 13 percent saying they want to see Scott, the only black Republican in the Senate, on the ticket.
Foreign policy expert Rubio is second with 12 percent tied, with former neurosurgeon Ben Carson, who survived four years in Trump's cabinet.
J.L. Partners asked 1000 likely voters who they would like to see as Trump's VP pick. The results carry a margin of error of plus/minus 3.1 points
Vance, a big favorite with Trump's MAGA base, manages only four percent, as does Burgum, who still has little name recognition but has reportedly hit it off with the former president.
The top three stay the same when just Republican voters are considered.
Speculation about Trump's choice reached fever pitch at the end of June when the former president claimed he had made up his mind and his choice would most likely be present in Atlanta, Georgia, for the first presidential debate.
But he and his team have kept their counsel since then leaving the spotlight on President Joe Biden's poor performance and Democratic anguish about whether he should even stay on the ticket.
'It could happen anytime this week,' said Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller during a Fox News appearance.
The J.L. Partners poll of 1,000 likely voters showed that Trump had extended his lead over Biden by two points to six points in the aftermath of the debate.
Trump is due to hold a rally in Miami on Tuesday, triggering questions about whether he could be about to announce one of the Florida-based possibles as his vice president—Rubio, in particular.
Then again, there's another rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday ... close to Vance's home state of Ohio.
Insiders say nothing should be taken for granted when wondering what Trump will decide.
Having stoked speculation about his pick, Donald Trump has kept his own counsel since the first presidential debate with President Joe Biden
Sen. Tim Scott and Ben Carson are popular with likely voters, according to a poll of likely voters, adding food for thought as Donald Trump weighs his VP pick
Trump has reportedly narrowed his choice to from left to right: Sen. Marco Rubio, Gov. Doug Burgum, and Sen. J.D. Vance
Biden was leading Trump this time last year, but has seen the former president steal a lead since then. Trump now has a six point advantage, according to our exclusive poll
Each of the top three has influential members of Trump world pushing their name.
Steve Bannon, former White House chief strategist, has been quietly pushing Burgum as a safe pair of hands who would not overshadow his boss.
Donald Trump Jr and conservative activist Charlie Kirk have been promoting Vance as the pick of the grassroots movement.
And pollster Kellyanne Conway has argued that Rubio would do best at bringing in key demographic groups to the Trump coalition.
'As President Trump has said himself, the top criteria in selecting a vice president is a strong leader who will make a great president for eight years after his next four-year term concludes,' said Trump campaign senior adviser Brian Hughes.
'But anyone telling you they know who or when President Trump will choose his VP is lying unless that person is named Donald J. Trump.'
