Columbia, SC — Tim Scott may be the biggest Republican primary winner outside Donald Trump. Senator from South Carolina lost his presidential bid. However, his ardent support for the former president has raised questions about Scott being Trump's running mate.
Scott energized his home state's Feb. 24 primary election crowds with Trump rallies and interviews. Trump, who rarely shares the spotlight, taped a Fox News town hall piece in which he and Scott walked on stage with matching red ties, looking like a ticket. When asked who was on his vice presidential shortlist, Trump pointed to Scott, who was sitting in the front row, beaming widely.
Trump's Republican nomination has spawned many vice presidential candidates. For over a year, some have flown to Trump rallies and campaigned in early-voting states to secure the slot. Should Trump win, he will be constitutionally ineligible to run again, making his vice president the likely 2028 frontrunner.
Any Trump rival must consider Mike Pence's political future. He was shunned by Trump fans for rejecting Trump's voter fraud accusations and trying to halt the 2020 election certification that Trump lost to Joe Biden. Scott, 58, has avoided discussing the vice president's role in elections and whether he would have acted differently during the Jan. 6 rebellion. Scott voted to certify the 2020 results and thought Pence did the right thing in a presidential debate last year.
The one thing we know about the future is that the former president, fortunately, he’ll be successful in 2024, he won’t be facing that situation again,” he said in a February TV interview.
Trump has given inconsistent signals about his running mate search as he approaches the Republican nomination, suggesting he had already chosen but later changing his mind. Trump told Michigan's WJR-AM radio on Tuesday that he was “no rush” to announce. He said, “I want to keep you guessing.”
Aides who previously said it was too early to discuss the post declined to comment this week. A spokeswoman cited Trump's remarks. In addition to Scott, Trump met Monday at Mar-a-Lago with South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, whom he has shortlisted. She said the two had “a good, long conversation” on “a little bit about 2024.”
The main stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference outside Washington seemed like a reality TV tryout this year. New York Rep. Elise Stefanik called her upstate district “Trump and Elise Country,” while Ohio Sen. JD Vance is one of Trump's top backers.
Former Trump challenger Vivek Ramaswamy, who has strong “Make America Great Again” support, Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, whom Trump calls “a superstar with a tremendous future,” and Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake also appeared.
Noem and Ramaswamy tied for first in CPAC's annual straw poll, an unscientific measure of activists' views. Stefanik, Scott, and former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard were second. Ben Carson, Trump's former housing secretary; North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who endorsed Trump after dropping out; Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Trump's former press secretary; and Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn are also considered.
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