Ranking Trump’s potential VP picks
REST OF THE FIELD: Christie has been by Trump’s side the most, but Fallin could help him with women
The Republican National Convention opens in Cleveland in exactly 16 days.
That means that sometime over the next two weeks or so, we’ll find out who Trump has picked to be his vice-presidential running mate. Trump and his team have said all sorts of things about the timing of the announcement, including sometime soon and in the midst of the convention.
Taking the Trump team at its word, Gingrich and Christie occupy the top two spots in our new rankings of the Republican veepstakes. Here’s who else makes the top 5.
5. Jeff Sessions
If immigration is at the heart of Trump’s campaign — and it is — then picking the senator from Alabama makes some sense. Sessions has been the leading voice of hard-line conservatives on immigration for quite some time.
4. Mary Fallin
The Oklahoma governor has much to recommend her: She has spent time in office in Washington (she served in the House) and outside of it (she was elected governor in 2010) and, perhaps most importantly, she is a prominent female conservative. Trump has major problems among female voters.
3. Mike Pence
The Indiana governor met with Trump this weekend and is being formally vetted, according to NBC News.
2. Chris Christie
No one has sacrificed more for Trump than the New Jersey governor. His decision to endorse Trump in the heat of the primary process cost him dearly within the political establishment — even among those who called themselves his allies.
Christie has been by Trump’s side more than any other politician and, according to reporting on their relationship, is one of the few people who has the presumptive Republican presidential nominee’s ear.
1. Newt Gingrich
You can see why the former House speaker is appealing to Trump: He wakes up in the morning with 10 new policy ideas, he has spent time at the heights of Washington and he loves nothing more than upending the alleged wisdom of the political elites.