NEWS AND OPINION:
The equations multiply. Like clockwork, new organizations are speculating nonstop about Donald Trump’s potential pick for his vice-presidential running mate. Dozens of lists and even a few polls have appeared in the last week, parsing out possible second-in-command choices for the Republican front-runner. The rosters include everyone from Sen. Joni Ernst and Rep. Martha McSally to former Democratic hopeful Jim Webb and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. Veteran columnist and founder of PJ Media Roger L. Simon predicts Mr. Trump could surprise everybody with his choice — and doesn’t rule out former hopefuls Sen. Ted Cruz or Carly Fiorina appearing on the short list, despite the noisy acrimony between the rival sides.
“Who knows? This is politics. Anything can happen,” says Mr. Simon. His VP choices for Mr. Trump include Sen. Marco Rubio, along with Govs. Nikki Haley, Susana Martinez and Chris Christie, Ben Carson and Newt Gingrich — who have all been mentioned elsewhere as hot properties.
Among Mr. Simon’s interesting picks: Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, who has criticized Mr. Trump in past months but “could help with the African-American vote, which now seems surprisingly open to Trump, and, as a vet, with the military,” Mr. Simon notes.
Sens. Jeff Sessions and Rob Portman, Rep. Duncan Hunter of California, Govs. Mary Fallin and Rick Scott, plus Rudy Giuliani all get a mention. Mr. Simon also names Scott Brown, whose resume includes stints as both a lawmaker and pinup model.
“The former Massachusetts senator has the personality and politics to mesh with Trump and has spoken for the businessman on TV. He lost to Elizabeth Warren — which might be a plus,” Mr. Simon notes.
THE HILLARY/BERNIE COMBO
Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton’s search for a running mate has some “strategery” at work. Almost two weeks ago, her campaign accidentally-on-purpose revealed to The New York Times that Mrs. Clinton was mulling over 15 to 20 possible candidates. A few who could join Mrs. Clinton on the campaign trail: Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Tim Kaine, Mark R. Warner and Sherrod Brown, plus former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.
But wait a minute. Is Mrs. Clinton feeling the Bern? Some observers say it would be prudent.
Though Sen. Bernard Sanders has rejected the idea he would ever, ever join Mrs. Clinton on a “unity ticket,” a chorus of analysts has already explored the idea. They point out that Mr. Sanders has the hefty support of crucial independent voters that Mrs. Clinton lacks. If the two charged forth together, it could provide a big boost for Democrats — and some very disturbing moments among uneasy Republicans.
THE DAY AFTER
Where are the presidential hopefuls on Wednesday? Alas, former candidate Sen. Ted Cruz was to have made stops in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Spokane, Washington. Donald Trump, who spent primary night on Tuesday at the Trump Tower in New York City — will be in Janesville, Wisconsin. Gov. John Kasich has a morning press conference at Dulles Airport in Virginia, followed by a “full day of finance events in Maryland and Virginia,” he says.
“As long as it remains possible, Gov. Kasich will fight for the higher path. Ted Cruz ran a strong campaign, stood for conservative principles and exposed a lot about Donald Trump. Gov. Kasich will continue to campaign,” said John Weaver, the candidate’s strategist.
Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, is in transit and bound for Los Angeles. Sen. Bernie Sanders, on the other hand, is headed for an appearance in Morgantown, West Virginia.
WATERGATE REAWAKENS
“If these walls could talk.”
— From an invitation to the reopening gala of the Watergate Hotel in the nation’s capital, which emerges anew on June 14 after a $125 million renovation and a seven-year hibernation. “The return of a legend,” the invitation explains.
PILL-APALOOZA
“Of the estimated 154 million prescriptions for antibiotics written in doctor’s offices and emergency departments each year, 30 percent are unnecessary. These 47 million excess prescriptions each year put patients at needless risk for allergic reactions or the sometimes deadly diarrhea, Clostridium difficile,” says a new report published Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in The Journal of the American Medical Association. “Antibiotics are lifesaving drugs, and if we continue down the road of inappropriate use, we’ll lose the most powerful tool we have to fight life-threatening infections,” notes Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the federal agency — which has received $160 million in new funding as part of the “National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria.”
KING OF THE AIRWAVES
Donald Trump has dominated the news on CBS, NBC and ABC, according to a meticulous analysis by Rich Noyes, senior editor for Newsbusters.com, a conservative media watchdog. He found that in the past four months, Mr. Trump received three times as much TV news coverage as Sen. Ted Cruz and a “whopping” 15 times as much as Gov. John Kasich. It is a significant advantage, considering that the combined viewing audience for evening news on all three networks is about 25 million.
And the numbers: From January through mid-April, Mr. Trump was showcased in 62 percent of all prime-time presidential coverage on the “Big Three” networks, for a total of 776 minutes. Mr. Cruz drew 20 percent, or 254 minutes, and Mr. Kasich 4 percent, or 52 minutes.
Mr. Trump’s coverage was also over twice that of Democratic hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernard Sanders combined — which amounted to 748 minutes between them. Mr. Noyes and his research team based their conclusions on an intense review of 895 news accounts that included full reports, briefs and closely related stories. The study was released Tuesday.
POLL DU JOUR
• 57 percent of registered Democratic voters say Sen. Bernard Sanders should remain in the presidential race through the Democratic convention, which begins July 25.
• 89 percent of voters who support Mr. Sanders and 28 percent of Hillary Clinton supporters agree.
• 54 percent overall support Mrs. Clinton, 40 percent support Mr. Sanders.
• 25 percent say Mr. Sanders should drop out after the final primary on June 14; 10 percent of Sanders voters and 40 percent of Clinton voters agree.
• 16 percent say he should “drop out now”; 0 percent of Sanders voters and 30 percent of Clinton voters agree.
Source” An NBC News/Survey Monkey online poll of 12,462 registered U.S. voters conducted April 25 to May 1.
Blather, chatter and squawks to jharper@washingtontimes.com
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.
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