The attention will be fixated rightly on the crazed violence that convulses politics and the assassination attempt on DJT — but the messaging will shift also, and suspense will grow about who the VEEP Republican pick will be. The RNC intends to go forward with the week’s events.
I venture a forecast. I believed this, before the tumult that gripped the Democratic Party last week (before the doubt swelled about Biden-or-not at the top of the ticket, that is, pre-debate). I maintain this expectation more recently after Democrats started cleaving into separate keep-Biden versus Biden-step-aside promoter camps.
I believe Trump wants to nominate Rep. Elise Stefanik (D-NY) to run as VP. It’s true he hasn’t lately previewed Stefanik as one of his top three (all men), but you know Trump has a long, long career of loving drama with surprise twists, and upending media coverage and prevailing wisdom.
Also, if a different frontrunner for Democrats than Biden may emerge pre-August convention and that could bring Kamala Harris to top of the ticket, then Trump may want a woman featured with him.
Trump gave the upstate New Yorker his high praise, impressed months ago by her battling with three university presidents in oversight hearings in Congress, and her claiming the mantle of challenging antisemitism.
In the several seismic shifts in the political landscape over the last month, from the earlier time before the debate, to the post-debate jolt phase, and now to the post-shooting in Pa., the one period I’m not as sure of for impacting the decision dynamic about Veep selection is the new period, post-Butler, Pa.
I haven’t figured out if this new turn will steer the decision making towards one or another Veep prospect.
Do others think Trump picks only from the 3 men, Sen. Rubio, Sen. Vance, and Governor Burgum? Or will there be a bigger surprise?