Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Thursday said there’s “probably a 40 percent chance” his vice presidential pick will be a former 2016 GOP rival, but said it’s “probably unlikely” that he would tap Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
“I would say probably a 40 percent chance within the group,” Mr. Trump said on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” when asked if his vice presidential pick would be someone from the 2016 GOP field.
“I’ve gotten to be friends with a lot of those people, and I guess perhaps enemies with a couple, but I’ve gotten to be friends with quite a few, and I would say there’s a good 40 percent chance,” he said.
Mr. Trump said he’s had a good relationship with Mr. Kasich, who announced on Wednesday he was suspending his own campaign, clearing the path for Mr. Trump as the lone remaining Republican candidate.
“I would say probably it’s unlikely that it’ll be John,” Mr. Trump said. “I’m not sure that John even wants it, but I think it’s unlikely that it’ll be John. But … I do have a good view of him and I do have a good opinion of him, but I think it’s probably unlikely.”
Mr. Trump said he’s likely going to want someone on the ticket with political experience.
“I think having somebody that [can] get legislation through and help me with that would be good,” he said.
“Of course, always the first reason is if something should happen, somebody that can serve and serve well, and be a great president,” the real estate mogul said. “You always start off with that.”
“And after that, it’s really a question of rapport. I think rapport is very important,” Mr. Trump said. “You know, when President Obama picked Biden, to be honest, a lot of people said, ’What’s he doing?’ “
“But they had a good rapport together, and I guess they figured that out during the debates, and Biden had run and not done so well,” he said. “But they had a good rapport, and they [seemed] to get along well, and there is something awfully important about that, I think.”
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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