by Darren Janz
With less than one month remaining until the Republican National Convention kicks off in Cleveland, Donald Trump's search for a running mate is becoming more vital by the minute. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton's lead in general election polling is appearing to become more tenuous by the day, indicating that her Vice Presidential choice could be the difference between a win and a loss in November. Political Resource has identified five of the most likely contenders for Vice Presidential nomination on both the Republican and Democratic sides, along with each potential nominee's benefits and liabilities. First up, the Republicans: 1. Newt Gingrich - As a former speaker of the United States House of Representatives and loyal Trump surrogate, Gingrich is certain to bring both experience and passion to the Republican ticket if ultimately selected. His familiarity with Capitol Hill is a trait Donald Trump has actively looked for in potential Vice Presidential nominees, with Trump asserting that political experience will be mandatory for his administration's successful navigation of Congress. However, Gingrich's fiery persona may be unable to successfully balance that of Donald Trump on the Republican ticket, and his association with Congress may not necessarily only be a plus. 2. Chris Christie - Ever since abandaning his own presidential aspirations earlier this year, Christie has been a strong proponent of the Trump campaign, becoming the first former presidential candidate in the 2016 Republican field to endorse Trump in spite of vicious attacks that had been launched against him throughout the primary season. Christie's loyalty and political skill will likely come to the advantage of his hopes for the Vice Presidential spot, though his rock-bottom approval ratings in his home state of New Jersey and association with the Bridgegate scandal may prove to prevent him from winning the position in the end. 3. Jeff Sessions - In late February, Jeff Sessions became the first sitting member of the United States Senate to endorse Donald Trump's bid for the presidency, announcing his support even before his home state of Alabama voted on March 1. Sessions' early loyalty has undoubtedly helped him win Trump's favor, and although his relatively low national profile may stymie his chances of getting the VP nod, Sessions' lasting support for Trump's campaign and conservative reputation may end up resulting in his name being on the ballot in November. 4. Mike Pence - As the Governor of Indiana, Pence has - for better or for worse - gained a reputation as a staunch conservative, signing into law a bill that allows business owners to refuse service to LGBT customers despite a profuse national backlash from progressive and LGBT groups. Pence's experience as Governor, along with his many years as a former United States Congressman, will almost certainly come to his advantage in the fight for the Republican VP spot, though Trump may ultimately choose a less controversial figure for his ticket as part of a general election strategy. 5. Mary Fallin - Like Pence, Governor Fallin has gained a reputation for staunch conservatism throughout her time as Governor of Oklahoma, supporting legislation and policies that favor the expansion of drilling for oil and natural gas despite the protests of environmental groups. Fallin's experience, along with her ability to counter the Democrats with a woman on the presidential ticket, could boost her chances of being selected to serve as Trump's running mate. Of course, her low national profile could make her selection as VP a surprise to many. Overall, a prominent trend can be seen with each of Trump's most likely VP contenders, with his campaign appearing to favor loyalty and consistent conservatism in potential running mates. While Gingrich, Christie, and Sessions were all noted for their long-lasting support of the Trump campaign, Pence and Fallin have credentials and experience that could help the GOP ticket pull in conservative voters who found themselves estranged in the primaries. Now, on to the Democrats: 1. Tim Kaine - As a former Mayor, Chair of the DNC, Governor, and the current senior United States Senator from Virginia, Tim Kaine undoubtedly has the experience and governing skill worthy of a spot on the Democrats' presidential ballot come November. While his gravitas and political expertise easily make him one of Clinton's most stable choices for the Vice Presidency, he has little to offer in terms of demographic advantage or exciting the Democrats' progressive base. 2. Elizabeth Warren - Ever since being elected to the United States Senate in 2012, Elizabeth Warren has been one of the most prominent icons in the American left, with her supporters going so far as to create a "Draft Warren" movement in order to encourage her to run for the presidency in 2016. While their efforts were ultimately fruitless, Warren could still be eyeing the VP spot, with her strong progressive credentials and support from Sanders' wing of the party providing a possible boost for Clinton in the general election if she is ultimately chosen. Still, Warren has so far denied any interest in becoming Clinton's running mate, and the Clinton campaign may have reservations in introducing a double-female ticket at the DNC. 3. Julian Castro - With his current position as the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development making him the youngest incumbent Cabinet Secretary in the Obama Administration, Castro could provide a much-needed source of energy for the Clinton campaign that so far seems to be lacking. Furthermore, his Mexican-American ancestry could help boost turnout for the Clinton campaign in Hispanic communities, especially in swing states like Florida, Colorado, Nevada, and even Arizona. Despite his potential, Clinton may end up opting for a more experienced running mate, and at just forty-one years of age, Castro isn't likely to provide what her campaign may be looking for. 4. Sherrod Brown - As a staunchly progressive Senator from Ohio, Sherrod Brown offers two things the Clinton campaign is looking for in a running mate - potential to draw reluctant Sanders primary voters to the Democratic ticket and a boost of support in a key swing state. However, Brown remains largely anonymous to the public, and his selection as Clinton's running mate would likely mean forfeiting a valuable Senate seat to the Republicans for the near future due to the appointment of his replacement by Republican Gov. John Kasich. 5. Cory Booker - Like Castro and Brown, Cory Booker has multiple things he could offer to the Democratic ticket, with a reputation as a strong campaigner and the potential to increase African-American turnout come November both serving as assets to his potential consideration for the VP spot. On the other hand, Booker's alleged close ties to Wall Street may prevent his nomination from increasing support for the Clinton ticket among disenfranchised Sanders supporters, which could result in his being passed over for another potential Vice Presidential candidate. While Trump's top picks for the Vice Presidential nod appear to mostly revolve around loyalty to his primary campaign and conservative governing reputation, Clinton seems to be much more focused on her general election strategy in the selection of her Vice Presidential nominee, with outreach to Sanders' primary voters and the potential to increase minority turnout both appearing to be key aspects her top choices. Of course, the field of potential candidates for each party's Vice Presidential nomination is much larger than those discussed here, and while the conventions are inching closer and closer by the day, we may not know of Trump and Clinton's decisions for a few more weeks. Until then, all we can do is wait and see.
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