Trump Considering Former Republican Rival For Potential Running Mate - 'It's Very Important You Pick The Right Person'

A report from NBC News on Wednesday added a new name to the long list of potential vice presidential candidates for presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump to choose from, this time a former GOP rival. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), who ran against Trump in the 2016 Republican primaries, is reportedly gaining traction within Trump's orbit, given his background and telegenic nature.

Conservative commentators haven't widely talked about the 52-year-old three-term senator from Florida, but one Florida GOP operative told NBC, "It's pretty clear from Trump's orbit that Rubio is in play. It makes sense because he checks almost every box if they can get past both being from Florida." The Constitution prohibits both the presidential and vice presidential candidate from being from the same state, given that Trump resides in Palm Beach, Florida, at his Mar-a-Lago resort. If Trump wanted to pick a Floridian, one of them would have to change their residence for the ticket to adhere to Article II, Section I, Clause 3, which reads, "The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by Ballot for two Persons, of whom one at least shall not be an Inhabitant of the same State with themselves."

Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, would be a surprise pick for Trump given their history in the 2016 presidential election when they both repeatedly went after one another on a personal level. From that point onward, however, Rubio has been a loyal ally of the 45th president and endorsed him prior to the Iowa caucuses. While Rubio will join a list of over a dozen other potential vice presidential candidates, those also under consideration have been frequently discussed by Trump in recent interviews.

During a Fox News town hall in February, Trump was asked by host Laura Ingraham if businessman Vivek Ramaswamy (R-OH), Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (I-HI), and Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD) were on his vice presidential shortlist. "They are," Trump responded. "So I think it is very important. But first is that, as we said, it has to do with whoever - it's a very important position for that reason. You'd like to get someone who could help you from a voter standpoint. And honestly, all of those people are good. They're all good. They're all solid."

The CPAC straw poll taken last month hinted at who the grassroots wants to be Trump's running mate. The poll found that 15 percent of CPAC attendees wanted Ramaswamy, another 15 percent wanted Noem, nine percent wanted Gabbard, eight percent wanted Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), eight percent wanted Scott, seven percent wanted Donalds, six percent wanted Kari Lake, and DeSantis, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-AR), and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson all got five percent.

While it is anyone's guess who will be chosen to be Trump's running mate for November, the timeline for when he will choose is clearer. Per NBC, Trump will make his decision in June, about a month before the Republican National Convention. "It's very important you pick the right person in case something happens," Trump explained to WABC radio on Tuesday. You want to have somebody who can step into that role and be great."

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