The Donald Trump veepstakes are in full swing.
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-Schuylerville) — who recently shined at Congressional hearings torching the heads of America’s top universities — is among the leading contenders.
Stefanik, 39, a one-time moderate, has been one of Trump’s fiercest supporters.
He calls her a “killer” and she did her first surrogate stump speech for Trump in New Hampshire on Saturday.
J.D. Vance — The junior Ohio senator won his 2022 election in large part thanks to Trump’s endorsement and has been a reliable foot soldier for the former president ever since.
“I’m going to help Trump however I can because I think he was a good president, and I think the American people will benefit from having him [as] president again,” Vance, 39 recently told CNN.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders — Sarah Sanders was Trump’s press secretary and the two remain close.
Unlike many from Trump’s term, Sanders emerged from his White House unscathed by scandal and went on to become governor of Arkansas, where she is popular.
In Trumpland Sanders, 41, is fondly remembered for her unswerving loyalty and a softer touch, which could help the former president with women voters.
Tim Scott — The mild-mannered South Carolina senator and one-time Trump opponent formerly endorsed him Friday.
Scott, 58, has juice was Christian voters and would appeal to many of the same members of Trump’s winning 2016 coalition.
“Selecting Tim Scott is a pick that grows the party while firming up support from old-school Republicans and evangelical voters … and is someone who isn’t afraid to take on the media,” said one enthusiast.
Nikki Haley — Trump remains officially at war with his former United Nations ambassador, but many establishment and donor-class Republicans view Haley, 52, as his best shot to expand his coalition and return to the White House.
“If it’s a really, really tight race you might have some people who don’t like Trump that hate Democrats and this gives them kind of a reason to vote for him,” said veteran Dem pollster James Carville.
Tucker Carlson — A bête noire of liberals, the former Fox News host would be a dream candidate for many of Trump’s die-hards looking for someone who embodied the ideas of the MAGA movement but could be offered to voters in a younger and more disciplined package.
Some also believe that liberals’ loathing of Carlson, 54, would be Trump’s best protection from impeachment and removal from office by a Democratic congress — who would hate to deliver Carlson the top job even more.
“Tucker would certainly serve as a hedge against any Deep State machinations against the president, and his selection would rally the base.
Tucker is the most right-wing prospect floated yet,” said Gavin Wax, president of the New York Young Republican Club.