This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/07/us/politics/donald-trump-vice-president.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Donald Trump’s New Reality Show: The Running Mate Donald Trump’s New Reality Show: The Running Mate
(about 2 hours later)
RALEIGH, N.C. — Donald J. Trump’s already short list of potential running mates got shorter on Wednesday when Senator Bob Corker removed himself from contention a day after appearing at an audition of sorts with the presumptive Republican nominee.RALEIGH, N.C. — Donald J. Trump’s already short list of potential running mates got shorter on Wednesday when Senator Bob Corker removed himself from contention a day after appearing at an audition of sorts with the presumptive Republican nominee.
Mr. Corker, Republican of Tennessee, told The Washington Post in an interview that he had told Mr. Trump during their travels together that he did not want to be considered for the vice-presidential nomination.Mr. Corker, Republican of Tennessee, told The Washington Post in an interview that he had told Mr. Trump during their travels together that he did not want to be considered for the vice-presidential nomination.
Another contender whom Mr. Trump’s aides were said to have preliminarily vetted, Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, also said on Wednesday that she was not looking to be Mr. Trump’s running mate. Ms. Ernst, who met with Mr. Trump on Monday, was not sent the final vetting papers by the Trump team, according to a person close to Mr. Trump who had been briefed on the process and who asked to remain anonymous. Mr. Corker was sent vetting papers, but did not send all of them back, the person said. Another contender whom Mr. Trump’s aides were said to have preliminarily vetted, Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, also said on Wednesday that she was not looking to be Mr. Trump’s running mate. But a person close to the Trump campaign who asked for anonymity to discuss the vetting process said the campaign had indicated to Ms. Ernst and Mr. Corker that they would not end up on the final list. An aide to Mr. Corker disputed that account.
The developments came amid a highly unusual selection process for a running mate: testing out candidates in the court of public opinion, an approach that feels oddly similar to the one Mr. Trump took on his reality television show, “The Apprentice.” Moving away from his initial hope to unveil the running mate at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Mr. Trump is instead maximizing the drama — and public attention — around his vice-presidential selection process.The developments came amid a highly unusual selection process for a running mate: testing out candidates in the court of public opinion, an approach that feels oddly similar to the one Mr. Trump took on his reality television show, “The Apprentice.” Moving away from his initial hope to unveil the running mate at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Mr. Trump is instead maximizing the drama — and public attention — around his vice-presidential selection process.
In Mr. Corker’s case, the senator shared the stage with Mr. Trump at a rally in North Carolina on Tuesday, but Mr. Trump’s outsize presence clearly overshadowed Mr. Corker.In Mr. Corker’s case, the senator shared the stage with Mr. Trump at a rally in North Carolina on Tuesday, but Mr. Trump’s outsize presence clearly overshadowed Mr. Corker.
And Wednesday night, Mr. Trump appeared in Cincinnati with Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker and an informal adviser to the candidate. Mr. Gingrich, who has also been asked to submit vetting documents, is a fierce defender of the candidate on cable news shows. He is admired by Mr. Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and daughter Ivanka, but he had not had the opportunity to appear in public with the candidate until now.And Wednesday night, Mr. Trump appeared in Cincinnati with Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker and an informal adviser to the candidate. Mr. Gingrich, who has also been asked to submit vetting documents, is a fierce defender of the candidate on cable news shows. He is admired by Mr. Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and daughter Ivanka, but he had not had the opportunity to appear in public with the candidate until now.
Mr. Gingrich introduced Mr. Trump, and as Mr. Trump spoke, the crowd periodically chanted for the former speaker of the House. Later, Mr. Trump addressed the selection process: “I’m not saying it’s Newt, but if it’s Newt, nobody is going to be beating him in those debates.”Mr. Gingrich introduced Mr. Trump, and as Mr. Trump spoke, the crowd periodically chanted for the former speaker of the House. Later, Mr. Trump addressed the selection process: “I’m not saying it’s Newt, but if it’s Newt, nobody is going to be beating him in those debates.”
Instead of keeping meetings with contenders secret, Mr. Trump posts about them on Twitter. And instead of quietly watching contenders over many months, Mr. Trump, whom several elected Republicans are steering clear of campaigning with, is carrying out his selection process hastily before he chooses a running mate in the coming days.Instead of keeping meetings with contenders secret, Mr. Trump posts about them on Twitter. And instead of quietly watching contenders over many months, Mr. Trump, whom several elected Republicans are steering clear of campaigning with, is carrying out his selection process hastily before he chooses a running mate in the coming days.
Mr. Trump further stoked the intrigue on Wednesday by telling Fox News that he had a list of roughly 10 people — before, he had said it was four or five — and that two retired military generals were under consideration.Mr. Trump further stoked the intrigue on Wednesday by telling Fox News that he had a list of roughly 10 people — before, he had said it was four or five — and that two retired military generals were under consideration.
But chemistry matters with a nominee, and while the mood was warm between Mr. Corker and Mr. Trump on Tuesday evening, it was at best perfunctory.But chemistry matters with a nominee, and while the mood was warm between Mr. Corker and Mr. Trump on Tuesday evening, it was at best perfunctory.
After Mr. Trump introduced the Tennessee senator as “a great friend of mine, somebody respected by everybody,” Mr. Corker strode out and waved before shaking hands and embracing Mr. Trump in a half-hug.After Mr. Trump introduced the Tennessee senator as “a great friend of mine, somebody respected by everybody,” Mr. Corker strode out and waved before shaking hands and embracing Mr. Trump in a half-hug.
“I just came to visit,” Mr. Corker said, to laughter. Then he added, “The rallies that I have back home aren’t quite like this. Pretty cool. Yeah. It’s unbelievable, isn’t it?”“I just came to visit,” Mr. Corker said, to laughter. Then he added, “The rallies that I have back home aren’t quite like this. Pretty cool. Yeah. It’s unbelievable, isn’t it?”
Mr. Trump rubbed Mr. Corker’s back as the crowd began chanting his name, and the senator quickly wrapped up. “I am taking up his time,” Mr. Corker concluded. “Let me just say this — the reason you love him so much is because he loves you. He loves you and he wants the best for you.”Mr. Trump rubbed Mr. Corker’s back as the crowd began chanting his name, and the senator quickly wrapped up. “I am taking up his time,” Mr. Corker concluded. “Let me just say this — the reason you love him so much is because he loves you. He loves you and he wants the best for you.”
Mr. Corker, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, then stood off to the side as Mr. Trump praised the fallen Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein for how he handled terrorism, drawing unwanted attention on one of the hardest days for his likely opponent in November, Hillary Clinton.Mr. Corker, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, then stood off to the side as Mr. Trump praised the fallen Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein for how he handled terrorism, drawing unwanted attention on one of the hardest days for his likely opponent in November, Hillary Clinton.
There is precedent for candidates testing how potential running mates fare on the stump. In 2012, Mitt Romney sized up the people he was considering for vice president as they took turns campaigning for and with him that spring. Mr. Romney and his ultimate choice, Representative Paul D. Ryan, now the House speaker, had notable chemistry, bantering easily as they stopped at a Culver’s restaurant for butter burgers and chocolate malts.There is precedent for candidates testing how potential running mates fare on the stump. In 2012, Mitt Romney sized up the people he was considering for vice president as they took turns campaigning for and with him that spring. Mr. Romney and his ultimate choice, Representative Paul D. Ryan, now the House speaker, had notable chemistry, bantering easily as they stopped at a Culver’s restaurant for butter burgers and chocolate malts.
And Mrs. Clinton made a heavily publicized appearance last week in Ohio with Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, whom many progressives dream of seeing on the Democratic ticket.And Mrs. Clinton made a heavily publicized appearance last week in Ohio with Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, whom many progressives dream of seeing on the Democratic ticket.
But if the concept of road-testing candidates is familiar, Mr. Trump’s deeply public method is not. Campaigns typically go to great lengths to keep secret the list of people being considered.But if the concept of road-testing candidates is familiar, Mr. Trump’s deeply public method is not. Campaigns typically go to great lengths to keep secret the list of people being considered.
Mr. Trump, by contrast, is employing his favorite medium, Twitter, to stoke as much anticipation as possible.Mr. Trump, by contrast, is employing his favorite medium, Twitter, to stoke as much anticipation as possible.
“I look forward to meeting @joniernst today in New Jersey. She has done a great job as a Senator of Iowa!” Mr. Trump posted on Monday.“I look forward to meeting @joniernst today in New Jersey. She has done a great job as a Senator of Iowa!” Mr. Trump posted on Monday.
Stephanie Cutter, a Democratic strategist and a veteran of John Kerry’s presidential campaign in 2004, recalled deep secrecy shrouding the selection of his running mate.Stephanie Cutter, a Democratic strategist and a veteran of John Kerry’s presidential campaign in 2004, recalled deep secrecy shrouding the selection of his running mate.
“Normally, candidates like to consider their V.P. selections privately so that they can keep their options open and not defined by the people that they don’t pick,” she said. Being floated and then not chosen could be “demeaning” to the runners-up, she said.“Normally, candidates like to consider their V.P. selections privately so that they can keep their options open and not defined by the people that they don’t pick,” she said. Being floated and then not chosen could be “demeaning” to the runners-up, she said.