Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Friday ruled out selecting a Democrat as his vice presidential choice, saying he’ll pick a “great Republican” to be on his ticket.
“I would rule him out, or her out,” he said on “Fox and Friends” when asked if he would rule in or out “a Democrat — the right kind of Democrat.”
“We want to have a great ticket. The Democrats have been in there for a long time,” Mr. Trump said. “No, I’m going to pick a great Republican, and we’re going to have a tremendous victory. We’re going to win.”
Minutes later, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, who is helping with Mr. Trump’s vice presidential search process, appeared open to at least looking at the right kind of Democrat.
“If there was a Democrat who strongly upheld the Constitution, believed in personal responsibility, a hand up rather than a handout, fiscal responsibility, a strong military, [we’d] be willing to talk to them,” Mr. Carson said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “If you know any such Democrats, let me know.”
“But clearly … you need people who are consistent with the views that the president has,” said Mr. Carson, a former 2016 GOP presidential candidate who has endorsed Mr. Trump.
On CNBC Thursday, Mr. Trump said there was probably a 40 percent chance that his choice would come from the 2016 GOP field.
He said Friday he has noticed people taking themselves out of the running who he isn’t even really considering.
“I do get a kick out of it. I won’t mention names [because] I don’t want to embarrass anybody,” Mr. Trump said. “So many people are saying, ’I’ve decided to turn it down.’ They were never on the list.”
“In all fairness, I won’t embarrass [them], but senators and governors, and they’re out saying, ’I’ve decided not to accept,’ and I never even talked to [them],” he said. “They’re not on the list, and they wouldn’t be chosen, but I have had more people talking about the fact that they’ve decided to turn it down.”
“Well, it’s politics I guess,” Mr. Trump said.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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