Trump's VP pick - video clip and questions

A great deal of attention has turned to who Donald Trump's running mate will be

How significant is the vice president? I have written here in a previous post that academic thinking is that swing voters aren’t voting for Vice President (VP), and therefore who is second on the ticket doesn’t positively influence their vote by all that much (an exception here is LBJ in 1960). Indeed, polls suggest that if anything people tend to vote against rather than for VP candidates. But it could have some beneficial effect in influencing those who are natural party voters who carry doubts about their presidential candidate. This means that the VP choice might potentially motivate supporters to rally around their candidates. And in an exceptionally close election, this could prove crucial. And despite the incumbent President, Joe Biden, having turned a small pre-debate lead into a large post-debate deficit, it could the November presidential race could still be close.

So the veep decision will be important for Trump, therefore, both in attracting votes and - for the new president - in managing the Administration.

As The (London) Times put it in an editorial:

“It was not always so. The first vice-president, John Adams, described his role as “the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived”. Writing in 1974 the historian Arthur Schlesinger Jnr concluded that “the vice-presidency is not only a meaningless but a hopeless office”.

And so, for most of its history, it has been. When Vice-President Harry Truman succeeded to the Oval Office in April 1945, he was entirely unaware of the project to develop the A-bomb, whose use he authorised four months later. When Dwight D. Eisenhower was asked what important decisions of his Administration his vice-president had taken part in, he replied: “If you give me a week, I might think of one.”’

So, that's the context. Who are the frontrunners? Current odds have JD Vance as the current frontrunner. But not by much, so he's not a regarded as a strong favourite. Then again, some are speculating that Trump could go for pick more out of left field...

Questions on the video segment:

1. Who are the three potential running mates that President Trump is considering, according to Julia Manchester?

2. What qualities does Marco Rubio possess that make him a strong candidate for Vice President in Julia's opinion?

3. Why does Rich Lowry suggest Glenn Youngkin as a potential VP pick for President Trump?

4. How does President Trump criticize Joe Biden's choice of Kamala Harris as his running mate?

5. According to President Trump, what concerns do voters have regarding Joe Biden and Kamala Harris?

6. Where does President Trump hint at announcing his VP choice, and why is this location significant?

7. Why does Rich Lowry believe JD Vance has appeal in rust belt states and could potentially help win over working-class voters?

Correct answers:

1. Florida Senator Marco Rubio, Ohio Senator JD Vance, and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum.

2. Marco Rubio can appeal to Latino and Hispanic voters in major swing states like Arizona and Nevada, as well as moderate Republicans or voters who are not fully supportive of Trump but dislike Joe Biden.

3. Glenn Youngkin is seen as a good pick by Rich Lowry because he helps with suburban voters, has executive experience, is a serious businessman, and can handle pressure well.

4. President Trump criticizes Joe Biden's choice of Kamala Harris by calling her an "insurance policy" and suggesting she represents California socialism, which may not resonate well with voters in Florida.

5. Voters are concerned about Joe Biden's age and potential inability to complete a term, leading them to view a vote for Biden as essentially a vote for Kamala Harris and her policies.

6. President Trump hints at announcing his VP choice at a rally in Western Pennsylvania, near where JD Vance is from, indicating a strategic move to potentially appeal to Rust Belt voters.

7. JD Vance has appeal in rust belt states due to his focus on economics and politics aimed at winning over working-class voters, making him a potentially strong candidate for Vice President.