The Republican candidates for president have started the task of selecting a running mate, a vetting process that typically lasts at least six weeks.
The Washington Post reports Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich are beginning to look at potential vice presidential picks. The approach is different this year than in years past because the nomination could be anyone's despite Donald Trump's strong lead.
A contested convention, reports the Post, could bring a host of scenarios into play. Depending on how the delegate vote total shakes out over the remaining primaries, candidates could either announce their running mate before the convention in hopes of getting a boost or wait until it's over.
Trump is reportedly thinking about vice presidential picks but will not vet anyone until after the convention.
Cruz and Kasich, reports the Post, are looking at several names and checking out their social media history, speeches, campaign finance reports, and other public records. The step after that would be for VP candidates to submit their tax returns and medical records, and to fill out a questionnaire.
People close to Cruz have said, according to the Post, that Republican Sens. Joni Ernst (Iowa) and Deb Fischer (Nebraska) are potential picks. Kasich is reportedly considering Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who suspended his own presidential campaign in March, and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who exited the presidential race last September.
Luis Fortuño, a former governor of Puerto Rico, told the Post Rubio would be a smart VP pick for any of the three GOP candidates.
"I think Rubio would be a tremendous addition to any ticket," Fortuño said. "He's still popular in Florida, he can communicate extremely well with the fiscally conservative base of the party and he can also do a great job with Hispanics."
Trump, who recently said
he would consider Rubio, Kasich, and Walker for his VP, has 845 delegate votes and Cruz has 559. With 148, Kasich is mathematically eliminated but he could still earn the nomination if the delegates choose him at the convention.
Cruz suggested this week Kasich is staying in the race in order to angle for a VP role under Trump.
"It may be that John is auditioning for trump's vice president," Cruz said,
reports Politico.
"But a Trump-Kasich ticket loses to Hillary Clinton."
Kasich has said all along he has no plans to be anyone's vice president.
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