(PresidentialWire.com)- CNN reported last week that “sources” with access to former President Donald Trump said if Trump runs in 2024, one of the people he’s considering as a running mate is New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.
Remember in 2016 when a floundering Ted Cruz tried to save his campaign by naming Carly Fiorina as his running mate while the primaries were still going on?
At the time, most people pointed out that usually, a candidate waits until he secures the nomination before naming his running mate. Cruz’s ill-timed announcement was met with well-deserved mockery.
At least Cruz was actually a declared candidate for president at the time. Donald Trump hasn’t even officially announced he’s running again in 2024.
But that didn’t stop CNN’s Melanie Zanona and Gabby Orr from “reporting” the news based on unnamed people “in Trump’s orbit.”
Two of the anonymous sources “familiar with the matter” told CNN that the former president is “surveying close friends and allies” to get their thoughts on Stefanik as a possible running mate. Allegedly, Trump is considering “several Republican women” for his VP.
Leaving aside the fact that mulling potential running mates before even declaring his own candidacy is a bit like putting the cart before the horse, why would Trump consider a moderate Republican from a deep blue state?
Surely there are more solid America First Republican women to choose from.
Chris Ruddy, CNN’s one and only “source” to go on the record in this article, said, “Trump thinks very highly of Elise Stefanik.”
Trump thought very highly of Mike Pence too. And Bill Barr. And Mitch McConnell.
Ruddy told CNN that a lot of Republicans believe choosing a female running mate would help the party reach more voters.
Ah, okay. So it isn’t about qualifications and experience, it’s about identity politics.
Isn’t that how we ended up with Vice President Kamala Harris?
