Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake, a fiercely loyal supporter of former President Donald Trump, has long been considered a top contender to be picked as the presumptive GOP nominee’s running mate for November’s presidential election.
That may have recently changed, though, as Trump has reportedly grown tired of Lake’s frequent visits to his Mar-a-Lago resort in South Florida when, in his view, she should be campaigning for office in Arizona, according to Mediaite.
Trump is also said to have grown skeptical of her chances of winning the Senate race in Arizona and has reportedly expressed doubt about her claims of election fraud as the reason for her failed gubernatorial run in that state in 2022.
Lake has allegedly worn out her welcome with Trump
The Liberal Washington Post reported Monday on the alleged growing “tension” behind the scenes between former President Trump and Lake — though both sides still publicly assert their close alignment and mutual support.
According to five unnamed sources described as “close” to the former president, Trump has “repeatedly expressed skepticism about her political prospects” in Arizona, a state he views as critical to his re-election bid, and has “shown annoyance with her frequent presence at his Florida resort.”
“At one point last year, after grumbling for months that she was at his Mar-a-Lago Club too often, Trump gently suggested to Lake that she should leave the club and hit the campaign trail in Arizona, according to a person with direct knowledge of his comments,” the Post reported. “Trump has also asked others if she can really win in Arizona and if she might drag down his own poll numbers as he seeks the presidency again in 2024, advisers said.”
The Post further asserted that Trump “has now all but ruled out Lake as a vice-presidential pick,” in large part because “She didn’t win” the Arizona governor’s race in 2022.
He was also reportedly “surprised” and “angry” when Lake released in January an alleged recording of now-former Arizona GOP Chair Jeff DeWit offering her a bribe to drop out of the state’s Senate race, and incredulously asked his advisers on the night of his New Hampshire primary victory, “She tapes everything? That’s good to know.”
Lake reportedly not alone in falling out of VP contention
If what The Post reported about former President Trump essentially ruling out Lake as his 2024 running mate is true, she would not be the only prospective VP contender to have their reported chances at being Trump’s selection diminished, CBS News reported.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has allegedly fallen from her spot near the top of Trump’s list following the recent controversy over her admission in a forthcoming book that she once put down an “untrainable” young hunting dog that had ruined a hunt, killed a neighbor’s chickens, and displayed “aggressive behavior” toward her and others.
Also said to be slipping in Trump’s rankings is his former White House press secretary, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, purportedly because she “took so long” to endorse his re-election bid — roughly one year after it was first announced in November 2022.
As for who is still holding strong on Trump’s list of possible running mates, CBS News reported that Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) is still said to be at or near the top of that list, while others receiving strong consideration include North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), former Housing Sec. Ben Carson, and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY).
Trump still publicly supports Lake
As noted, former President Trump’s alleged turn against Lake has been entirely private, as he and his campaign have continued to herald their support of her Senate campaign in Arizona against her likely Democratic opponent, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ).
Jason Miller, a spokesman for the Trump campaign, told The Post, “Kari Lake is a Smart and Fearless Leader who will WIN in Arizona, and help us flip the Senate to Republican control. Kari’s Opponent, Ruben Gallego, is an Open Borders RADICAL, who is BAD on Inflation and SOFT on Terrorists and Crime.”
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Author: Ben Marquis
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