Trump-DeSantis ticket would be unconstitutional

Former President Trump has not been spending his time in Mar-a-Lago boning up on the Constitution. The trial balloon he floated the other day about the possibility of his “friend” and “great guy,” Gov. Ron DeSantis, being his vice presidential running mate if the ex-president runs again in 2024, which he said he is “100%” considering, would likely sacrifice the electoral votes of Florida, a state Trump carried twice.

The 12th amendment to the U. S. Constitution proscribes a presidential elector from casting a vote for a ticket unless at least one of the candidates is from a different state than the elector. Thus, a Trump-DeSantis ticket would forfeit Florida’s 30 electoral votes (enhanced by one through redistricting) unless Republicans can pull off a Constitutional amendment, which is highly unlikely, or one of the GOP tandem moves out of state, as Dick Cheney did, departing Texas for his native Wyoming after his selection as George W. Bush’s running mate in 2000. That move was necessary for carrying the Lone Star State that was essential to their victory.

DeSantis leaving the state where he presumably would still be governor in three years is highly improbable, as is the former President’s leaving his beloved adopted Sunshine state to go — where, back to New York? As they say up there, Fuhgeddaboutit.

Marshall Tanick, Naples