For Vance and Rubio to get Trump’s VP nod, they may have to overcome their own governors
CNN
Marco Rubio and JD Vance, who are on Donald Trump’s shortlist of potential running mates, may have to overcome some political baggage back home to get the nod.
The two Republican senators on Donald Trump’s shortlist for potential running mates may have to overcome some political baggage in the form of their home-state governors to get the nod. If Trump picks either Marco Rubio of Florida or JD Vance of Ohio, the senator’s successor would be chosen by a Republican governor who has engaged in high-profile clashes with the former president. In Florida, that honor would go to Gov. Ron DeSantis, a onetime ally viewed more recently by Trump as “disloyal” for launching a rival presidential campaign. If Vance is picked, his Ohio replacement would be appointed by Gov. Mike DeWine, who has rarely seen eye to eye with the former president. It’s a fact that allies of Vance and Rubio are acutely aware of in the intensifying final days leading up to Trump’s announcement – and one they are trying to mitigate against by insisting the other senator has it worse. Pro-Rubio forces have suggested to those who will listen that DeWine would likely replace Vance with someone unaligned with Trump’s MAGA movement. “It would be a step backwards for the America First agenda,” one such Rubio backer said in making the case against Vance. Meanwhile, DeSantis’ deflection from Trump is a regular topic of conversation among those rooting for a running mate other than Rubio, including people urging the former president to consider Vance. A person with knowledge of the Trump-DeSantis relationship said the narrative may have captured the former president’s attention several months ago, but their ties have improved since their acrimonious race ended. In April, Trump and DeSantis met face-to-face and spoke for the first time since DeSantis dropped out of the presidential race some three months earlier. “They get along way better,” the person said.
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