| Reuters news |
On the 28th (local time), Axios reported that North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum (67) is emerging as a potential running mate for former President Donald Trump. While absorbing moderate voters has emerged as a key to victory in this year’s U.S. election, former president Donald Trump is eyeing Governor Burgum’s diverse experience and moderate conservative tendencies.
According to Axios, Governor Burgum was originally one of the vice presidential candidates. Still, he has emerged as a strong candidate in recent weeks as Trump struggles to absorb Republican voters who have not decided on a candidate. The former president and his wife Melania invited Governor Burgum to their home in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, for a brunch on March 1st.
Governor Burgum, who has successfully been re-elected in North Dakota, a state where the Republican Party is dominant, is a successful entrepreneur and a pro-capitalist who can appeal to the traditional Republican base. He had previously run as a presidential candidate in the Republican primary but declared his support for Trump soon after his resignation. Regarding the critical issue of abortion in this year’s election, he has shown the same stance as Trump, saying, “It is a matter to be left to the state government.” Two sources close to Trump said, “The former president highly appreciates Governor Burgum’s cautious attitude and experience as governor, and he sees him as a trustworthy and non-dramatic person.”
Meanwhile, Governor Burgum is also quietly working to expand Trump’s support base. He was the keynote speaker at a Republican dinner party event in Virginia this month and recently visited the campaign headquarters in New Hampshire at the request of Trump’s camp. New Hampshire is known for its moderate solid or mild conservative support, as seen in the evidence that the 43% vote for Nikki Haley, the former U.S. ambassador to the UN, in the Republican primary held last January.
Axios analyzed that by choosing Governor Burgum as Trump’s vice presidential candidate, he aimed for a political effect similar to that of nominating Mike Pence in 2016. Former Vice President Pence, a conservative Christian with a cautious character, starkly contrasted Trump’s style and contributed to expanding the scope of Trump’s camp. In addition to Governor Burgum, other potential vice-presidential candidates include the only black Republican Senator Tim Scott, Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota, and Representative Elise Stefanik.
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