The race to be Donald Trump's running mate has begun, with South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem likely to endorse him.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is expected to endorse former President Donald Trump on Friday, a move that could solidify her position as a potential running mate for the 2024 presidential election.
The race to be Donald J. Trump's running mate is now the only one that is actually competitive on the national level for the year 2024, according to polls of the Republican presidential primary field.
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As his rivals for the nomination, including former governor Nikki Haley and senator Tim Scott, a pair of South Carolina Republicans, routinely distance themselves from questions about their potential interest in the No. 2 position, speculation over Mr. Trump's potential vice president — a decision that would be made solely by him — has remained an undercurrent in the primary race.
Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota has been one Republican who has welcomed these inquiries. She recently told Fox News that "of course" she would consider running on a ticket with Mr. Trump even if she is not seeking the presidency.
Ms. Noem, 51, is expected to support the former president at a rally in her home state on Friday night, according to two people familiar with the plans who asked on anonymity to discuss private conversations. This will undoubtedly fuel further vice-presidential speculation. Before the occasion, Mr. Trump and Ms. Noem, who was elected to a second term last year, are anticipated to meet and formalize a formal statement, the sources said.
Only seven of the country's 26 Republican governors have openly declared their support for a candidate thus far, making Ms. Noem's endorsement notable even though South Dakota has minimal influence in the GOP presidential primary fight and even less in a general election.
Only three have backed Mr. Trump: Henry McMaster of South Carolina, Jim Justice of West Virginia, and Mike Dunleavy of Alaska. He is being challenged by Ron DeSantis of Florida and Doug Burgum of North Dakota.
About a potential vice presidential position, Ms. Noem told Fox News that "everyone should consider it." If President Trump were to return to the White House, I would do all in my power to ensure his success.
Yet, Mr. Trump is reportedly not giving any thought to a running partner.
Some people close to the former president claimed that the belief that such consideration would threaten his own nomination was likely based on superstition. Others claimed that he had diminished the significance of the job, treating it as little more than a White House staff position with negligible political influence among voters.
Several of Mr. Trump's associates raised questions after he casually mentioned in private that Mr. Scott's performance in the first Republican presidential debate hadn't gotten much attention. Even though he is now running against Mr. Trump, who skipped his party's first debate, Mr. Scott has been suggested as a potential vice presidential option.
The vice-presidential speculation, according to Mr. Trump's spokesperson Steven Cheung, demonstrated that "everyone knows Donald Trump will be the nominee and he continues to dominate every single poll."
Republican candidates Ms. Haley and billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy have also been touted as possible running mates for Mr. Trump in addition to Mr. Scott. Former Vice President Mike Pence, Mr. Trump's two-time running mate, is no longer friends with the former leader over the outcome of the 2020 election. He described Mr. Trump's populism this week as "a road to doom" for the party.
This week, in a radio interview with conservative talk show host Hugh Hewitt, Mr. Trump dismissed the notion that his running mate could assist with the campaign next spring while the former president is undergoing several criminal trials.
Because it doesn't work that way, there has never been a vice president who helped elect a president, according to Mr. Trump. It sounds great, but the president wins an election for himself.
Ms. Noem was a devoted supporter of Mr. Trump's presidency and received his endorsement for governor in 2018. Her glowing public comments when she welcomed him in 2020 sparked rumors that she wanted to succeed Mr. Pence on the GOP ticket.
As Republicans failed to live up to expectations in the midterm elections of last year, Ms. Noem modified her position significantly. Ms. Noem, who was regularly mentioned as a prospective 2024 candidate, expressed her opinion that Mr. Trump did not represent "the best possibility" for Republicans in an interview with The New York Times at the time.
Ms. Noem has more recently expressed support for Mr. Trump in cable news appearances, despite the fact that she stayed out of the crowded Republican primary where he is by far the front-runner.
She stated to Newsmax, a conservative news outlet, on Thursday that if asked, she would "in a heartbeat" consider serving as Mr. Trump's running mate.

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