Pollster Mark Penn suggested in a recent interview that former President Trump may need to consider his main GOP rival, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, as his vice president, a notion Trump has thus far dismissed. Penn, publisher of the Harvard CAPS/Harris poll, highlighted Trump’s challenge with Haley’s voter base, many of whom are disenchanted by the former president, posing a potential obstacle in the general election against President Biden.
Penn outlined two potential solutions to this dilemma: Trump could select either Haley or Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who recently endorsed him and has been actively supporting him on the campaign trail. Penn emphasized the importance of consolidating Haley’s voters, many of whom are categorized as ‘never Trump,’ suggesting that choosing Haley as vice president could effectively secure the women’s Republican vote in suburban areas and greatly benefit Trump’s chances in the election.
However, Trump publicly expressed skepticism about the idea of selecting Haley as his running mate during a rally in Concord, N.H., indicating that he does not view her as presidential material. Despite this, Trump emerged victorious in the New Hampshire primary, defeating Haley by a significant margin and edging closer to securing the GOP nomination. Following his win, Trump intensified his criticism of Haley, attempting to pressure her into suspending her campaign.
Meanwhile, Haley, who is aiming for a strong performance in her home state’s primary next month, leveraged Trump’s attacks for fundraising purposes, resulting in a substantial influx of donations to her campaign. Despite the ongoing political maneuvering, the question of Trump’s vice presidential pick remains uncertain, with potential implications for the upcoming election.
