Donald Trump’s choice for veep is reportedly down to Gov. Doug Burgum and Sen. JD Vance, with Burgum having a slight edge.
But the race is changing fast, and the former prez certainly isn’t afraid to shift course to up his odds in response: The larger his landslide, the stronger his mandate and the longer his coattails.
So, while North Dakota’s Burgum would be fine (while Vance looks risky under any circumstances), it’s not too late to consider someone like Virginia’s Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who could clinch the case for Trump in a state that’s newly in play — not to mention among swing voters across the nation.
Yes, Trump’s leading in the wake of President Biden’s implosion, but his victory is hardly assured — and he could wind up facing a ticket of Kamala Harris (or California Gov. Gavin Newsom) and some mystery No. 2, likely painted as a moderate.
Playing for a bigger win requires choosing a No. 2 who’ll reassure voters that Trump’s second term will be one of stability, not chaos.
Burgum’s fine in that regard, but Youngkin’s likely better.
In 2021, he became his state’s first Republican governor since 2009, defeating a strong Democrat, former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, by appealing to suburban voters.
That proves his vote-getting appeal in a state that went for Biden by 10 points in 2020 but is now a toss-up, with the sitting prez up by just 2 points.
Youngkin also offers executive experience, both as governor and as a top officer of the Carlyle Group; his business acumen could also prove reassuring and mesh with Trump’s own background and sensibilities.
Burgum, too, boasts impressive executive experience, business skills and a rep for getting things done.
And his views align closely with Trump’s.
Vance’s views also seem to align — now.
But in 2016, the Ohioan called himself a “Never Trump guy” and blasted The Donald as “an idiot,” “noxious” and “reprehensible.”
His tune changed not long before he started running for office; he also morphed into not just a critic of US help to Ukraine, but an outright opponent of any military aid.
Where might he morph next?
No one’s questioning his IQ; the Yale Law grad actually rose to fame by writing a well-received memoir.
But we wonder about his ballast: At 39, he’s served less than two years in the Senate and has no real executive experience.
He hasn’t come close to proving he’s ready to serve a heartbeat away from the nation’s highest office, nor that he won’t seek the limelight for himself.
Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida also reportedly remains in the running. At 53, he’s an experienced pol with 14 years in the Senate and a bid for president under his belt.
Yet he too lacks executive experience, vital for someone who’d be positioned to be the GOP standard-bearer in 2028.
Again, the importance of the veep choice this year should not be underestimated, especially with Democrats in flux.
Trump’s plainly taking it seriously — after all, his hopes and the country’s fate are at stake.
We see Youngkin or Burgum as his best bets for making America great again, again.