Maybe everything is over except the waiting.
Donald Trump's announcement that his running mate might attend Thursday's presidential debate has had exactly the effect he hoped for: creating a frenzied guessing game designed to distract from Trump's recent (and future) gaffes. Earlier this week, much of the media attention surrounding the candidates had focused on concerns about their age and memory loss. With Trump floating the idea of ​​announcing his running mate on Thursday, political commentators have shifted their focus instead.
Whatever the reason, President Trump's timeline has clearly been accelerated.
Michael Ian Black: I know this debate is complete bullshit, but I'm still going to watch it
Just a week ago, Trump had suggested he would announce his running mate at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July. The last candidate to do so was George H.W. Bush, who picked Dan Quayle on the penultimate day of the 1988 Republican National Convention. That choice was widely considered a disaster, but Trump seems undeterred, or perhaps unaware of the bad precedent, telling a Milwaukee TV station that it's “pretty likely” he'll announce his running mate during the actual convention.
At this point, the most likely choices seem to be one of three people: Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), or Gov. Doug Burgum (R-N.D.) The political establishment continues to believe it will come down to those three, but no one knows for sure.
But a wholly unconfirmed and not widely circulated rumor suggests that Trump has named six people as part of his informal list of candidates that may surprise us all.
These include:
Ben Carson, or “That Guy I Met Then”
According to The New York Times, Trump is “intrigued by the idea of ​​adding a black person to the presidential candidacy,” but doesn't seem too concerned with who that person might be. He is currently said to be torn between former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Carson and a black man (whose name has been withheld) who Trump has told associates is thought to work at Mar-a-Lago.
Pros: It could help change Trump's reputation for bigotry and intolerance.
Cons: Carson said he would “prayerfully consider” accepting the vice presidential nomination, but God probably wouldn't encourage him to run for the job.
Rudy Giuliani
The man once known as “America's Mayor” has always shown the same loyalty that Renfield has shown to Dracula for so many years, and Hizzoner would no doubt be ready and eager to endorse Trump again.
Pros: He works for his food. Plus, Giuliani might be the only man in America who can make Trump's wig look good.
Cons: Working for food. Plus, Giuliani might be the only man in America who can make Trump's razor look good.
Bonus: A source close to Trump said Rudy has already agreed to turn the vacant Four Seasons Gardening Center into luxury lodging if Trump is nominated.
Don't worry, Trump is not racist. He has black friends.
Frederick Douglass
It's hard to believe it's been more than seven years since then-President Trump praised the famous 19th century abolitionist as “an example of someone who's done great work and is becoming more and more respected.” Trump, who never admits he's wrong, is said to be intrigued by the idea of ​​nominating Douglas.
Pros: He died in 1895, so he literally couldn't turn down the job.
Cons: Many Trump supporters are not convinced that there were “very fine men on both sides” in the Civil War and would like to see Trump nominate Jefferson Davis.
Steve Bannon
“I think Bannon is a good choice for the role of vice president, and he's a good choice for the role of vice president. I think …
Strengths: A long-term strategic thinker, but much of his thinking is focused on how to be perceived as strategic.
Cons: He's a real felon, beginning his sentence in July at a federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut. Trump is comfortable working with inmates, as he's a felon himself, but unfortunately for Bannon, Connecticut is a heavily Democratic state. Even if he spends four to six months there and gets a reduction in his sentence for good behavior, it's unlikely he'll be able to turn him in favor of Trump.
Mike Pence
Trump loves politicians he openly denounces as power-hungry sociopaths, only to have them fight back anyway (see: the Republican Party as a whole).
Pros: Having Pence return to the Trump campaign would be the ultimate alpha move.
Cons: You will have to be physically separated from all Trump supporters at all times.
Joe Biden's aging has been treated much more harshly than Ronald Reagan's.
Hannibal Lecter
A longtime Trump favorite.
Pros: High voter recognition. Rector has strong approval ratings among MAGA supporters, who perceive him as “strong” and “authoritative.”
Cons: None in particular.
Of course, only Trump knows what's going on in his mind, and the constitutional requirements for a candidate are that they be over 35, a natural-born U.S. citizen, have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years, and have never shot a puppy and bragged about it in their memoirs.
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