Donald Trump is the Republican party’s de facto nominee for president and that’s already leading people to ask who he might select as a running mate. Regan McCarthy reports one name that’s coming up on several lists is Florida Gov. Rick Scott
While Scott waited to endorse Donald Trump until he’d won the primary in Florida, Scott’s shown his support for the real estate tycoon since the start of Trump’s campaign. He spoke on the show Fox and Friends after the primary.
“I want jobs. I know Donald Trump can focus on jobs like I’ve done down here and turn this economy around,” Scott said.
Even so, Scott recently told Erin Burnett on CNN’s Outfront, he’s not considering a VP run.
“I like my job. I worked hard to get this job. I’m going to stay in this job. We’ve added a million jobs. I was just in California recruiting companies to come here because California has these ridiculously high taxes and regulations. But no. I’m going to stay in this job. I’ve got eight months. But now it will be nice to have somebody in the white house who cares about jobs,” Scott said.
Joel Goldstein is a professor at the St. Louis University law school. He’s also an expert on vice presidential candidates. Goldstein says Scott’s answer makes sense right now, mostly because if Scott looks like he wants the job, but doesn’t get asked, that would be embarrassing. Goldstein says it’s not unusual for a politician to, in his words, “play hard to get,” but he says that doesn’t mean they can’t change their minds. He says one thing to note is who’s willing to be vetted
“If somebody says ‘I love my current job,’ but they still willing to go through the extensive process of pulling together the information that a normal vetting process would require and they’re willing to turn over their deepest personal secrets to the trump vetting operation, then regardless of what they say, then they’re interested in being vice president,” Goldstein says.
Meanwhile, despite Scott’s statements many are continuing to speculate. Some pundits suggest Trump needs Scott to win in Florida against Democratic front runner Hillary Clinton. But University of Florida Political Science Professor Daniel Smith says Scott’s not likely to help.
“No, I don’t think it makes much sense at all. Governor Scott has won two close elections. They were during the midterm elections when the electorate in Florida is very different from a presidential electorate and I don’t think Governor Scott would fair so well if he were on the ballot alone in a presidential year, much less as Donald Trump’s running mate,” Smith says.
Besides that, Smith says Scott doesn’t have the characteristics Trump needs in a running mate.
“Donald trump does not need another business man on the ticket to shore up support where he needs it—moderate Republicans and independents. He does not need an outsider. He’s got that in spades. He does not need another maverick who has come from outside of the Republican party to take the leadership of Florida over the last six years. He doesn’t need someone whose business ethics have been questioned,” Smith says.
Instead experts say Trump would do well to find a running mate who helps him reach out to women and independents, and someone who has political and national security experience. And Trump has suggested that’s the direction he’s leaning. But on the other hand, Goldstein points out Trump doesn’t have a very deep pool to pick from.
