On Politics

Wed Jul 10 2024

Sudiksha Kochi | Congress, Campaigns and Democracy Reporter

@KochiSudiksha

Hey OnPolitics readers! A vice president who has a beard is fine, but is living in the same state or pushing tough anti-abortion measures more problematic?

It's a question that has emerged after Republican frontrunner Donald Trump addressed his soon-to-be-announced running mate on Fox News radio on Wednesday, USA TODAY's Zac Anderson reported. Speculation about who Trump will pick as the GOP vice presidential nominee is reaching a crescendo this week in advance of the Republican National Convention, which kicks off Monday in Milwaukee. Trump said he'll make his pick "close to the convention."

❓Who is on Trump's list right now? The former president in recent weeks has narrowed his focus to Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, Florida U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum. Asked Wednesday if that list should be expanded, Trump said "You could, but I think I'm pretty well set in my own mind."

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

🧔So...what's the deal on Vance's beard? The VP discussion took a surprise twist this week when questions arose about whether Vance's beard could hurt his chances. Not so, says Trump, who is known to dislike beards but responded to a question about Vance's facial hair disqualifying him by saying: "No, I've never heard that one." Trump added that, "He still looks good, he looks like a young Abraham Lincoln."

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

🌴Would Rubio's residency issues complicate his VP chances? Trump said that he and Rubio living in the state wouldn't stop him from picking the Florida senator as a running mate "but it does make it more complicated." The Constitution doesn't bar a presidential ticket with two people from the same state, but if that happens the delegates from Florida could only vote for one of the two. But Trump said the problem is "fairly easily fixed." Either he or Rubio could move to another state.