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Donald J. Trump seems to be giving more weight to political calculations when deciding on a vice-presidential candidate, opting for the one who “helps you get elected”.
By Michael C. Bender
For much of the past year, Donald J. Trump has described his ideal running mate as someone who could easily take over as commander-in-chief if needed and help him draw a contrast with President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
“You want someone who can be a smart president, which Biden doesn’t have,” Trump said in April in an interview with Hugh Hewitt, a conservative political commentator.
But as the curtain rises on his variety show trial, his public statements suggest that his thinking has changed and that he is giving more weight to political calculations.
Trump said Monday that his most sensible precedent remained qualified to be president, then temporarily added a criterion for the time being: “Someone who is helping him get elected. “
His new focus on someone who can help him win may have been due to indecision about his choice, some allies said. Trump said he plans to announce his vice presidential nominee before the Republican National Convention, which begins Monday. Some advisers wonder if he will announce his selection before then, in time for a crusade rally Saturday in western Pennsylvania.
Two other people who spoke with Trump this week said they felt he was still undecided. As of Friday morning, he hadn’t called any of his three most sensible applicants to offer them the job, according to two aides who insisted on anonymity. to talk about internal deliberations.
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