Trump weighs strategy, qualifications for his vice presidential pick

The identity of former President Donald Trump's running mate remains a mystery, with the Republican National Convention just a week away.The former president says his top consideration for vice president is a person who is qualified to take over and replace him. Other factors are also at play in that decision. Currently, it appears only Trump himself seems to know the answer.There are currently five possible candidates on his shortlist, including Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.In a CNN interview, Rubio said he was unclear where Trump stood on the matter."I have heard nothing. I know nothing. You probably know more than I do about it," Rubio said. "Donald Trump has a decision to make. He will make it when he needs to make it. He will make a good decision."Vance echoed those thoughts in a separate interview."We'll let the media know if I ever get that call," Vance said. “But most importantly, we’re just trying to work to elect Donald Trump. Whoever his vice president is, he’s got a lot of good people he could choose from.”For many on the shortlist, former never-Trumpers are now among his biggest fans. "They may have had their differences in a previous lifetime, but they are in full lockstep with Donald Trump now, and they couldn't be more supportive," Casey Burgat, a political analyst at George Washington University, said.Experts say whoever Trump chooses, that person must meet several qualifications, including the ability to fundraise, debate and pose little risk of outshining and threatening Trump."Maybe the most loyal will win out because we know that Donald Trump really values that within candidates and followers," Burgat said.Another factor Trump may be considering is the ability for the person to reign in a voter base that he doesn't already have. That was the case for Trump's 2016 pick, Mike Pence, who helped sway evangelical voters.But a decision may have little impact on Trump's campaign. Experts say voters are ultimately looking at the name at the top of the ticket — in this case — Trump or Biden. The vice president may be able to move the needle slightly, garnering some votes depending on the state they're from.