ENTREPRENEUR Vivek Ramaswamy was tied with South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as Donald Trump’s likely vice presidential pick.
Attendees of a major political conference were divided on who former President Donald Trump should pick as his running mate in the 2024 presidential election, but Ramaswamy and Noem, two of the potential vice presidential candidates polled highest among the competition.
The 2024 Conservative Political Action Conference, which took place at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, last week, concluded with a straw poll asking attendees to choose their preference among a list of potential running mates for Trump. While no candidate received a clear majority among the respondents, two candidates captured a higher share of the vote than others.
Fifteen percent of respondents signaled they wanted Trump to select Kristi Noem as his vice presidential pick, while another 15% preferred Vivek Ramaswamy. Trump confirmed that he was considering both Noem and Ramaswamy, one of his formal rivals for the 2024 Republican nomination, in an interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham last week. If selected to join Trump on a victorious Republican ticket, Ramaswamy would become the first Hindu to serve as vice president.
None of the other choices broke 10% support in the straw poll. The third most popular potential running mate, former Democrat congresswoman and presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard, secured 9% support. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., the chair of the House Republican Conference, and Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., another one of Trump’s former rivals for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, each took 8%. Like Ramaswamy, Gabbard would become the first Hindu vice president if elected.
