U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn said Friday she’d be open to becoming GOP front-runner Donald Trump’s vice president if he wins the nomination, and she believes the party is prepared to rally around him come November.
“You have some who say, ’Oh we have different nominees,’ but look at it like this — it’s an outsider year. We’re going to have an outsider candidate who gets the nomination who becomes the next president of the United States,” said Ms. Blackburn during an interview at the Conservative Political Action Conference at National Harbor, Maryland.
Republicans should be encouraged at the high turn-out this cycle, taking it as a sign the party isn’t fractured, but growing, the Tennessee Republican said.
“If you take just the first four states and look at the vote totals there, Republican turnout is up 25 percent, Democrat turnout is down 26 percent, and while I appreciate that the mainstream media is all concerned about the Republican party, I think if this were reversed and Democrat turnout was up and Republican turnout down, they’d be saying, ’Oh my goodness, look at this, the demise of the party.’ So I think we’re doing just fine without their help,” Ms. Blackburn said.
Asked if she’d be willing to serve down-ticket from Mr. Trump, she said she’d consider it, but it isn’t likely given the red state she hails from.
“Anybody would consider that offer,” Ms. Blackburn said. “I know it won’t be me. I’m not from a toss-up state or a purple state, but it is so nice when your colleagues and friends and people that you know say we think you would be worthy of consideration. That’s just nice to hear.”
• Kelly Riddell can be reached at kriddell@washingtontimes.com.
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