Washington Free Beacon editor Matthew Continetti discussed on Tuesday possible running mates for Hillary Clinton (D.) and Donald Trump (R.) in an appearance on Fox News.
Continetti said candidates have two options in choosing a potential vice president: either strengthen their hand or "double down." In order to excite the Left, he said, Clinton may want to choose Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) or Labor Secretary Tom Perez, whereas a pick like Ret. Navy Admiral James Stavridis would be more about doubling down. Stavridis, a four-star admiral, is reportedly being vetted by the Clinton camp.
As fellow panelist and Boston Globe reporter Victoria McGrane pointed out, some supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) at the joint rally with Clinton in New Hampshire on Tuesday were disgusted by Sanders’ endorsement.
For Trump, Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn has been discussed as a potential pick to join the ticket, in addition to former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and current Govs. Mike Pence (R., Ind.) and Chris Christie (R., N.J.).
"I think Trump’s intrigued by the idea of having a general," Continetti said. "He likes to say he’s the most militaristic man around, and also [the] general’s the ultimate outsider because he’s not connected to politics."
Continetti added that Flynn’s appearances on talk shows, in addition to his back-and-forth positions about abortion, might have lessened his sway in the Trump camp. However, he said a pick like Gingrich would be Trump’s "double down" option, whereas Pence, who is well-liked by conservatives, could be a "strengthen the hand" option.
"But if you want to double down and you’re Donald Trump, I think it has to be Newt Gingrich," Continetti said. "Someone who shares a lot in common with you in terms of populism and also just outsized personality, but also brings not only the Washington experience, but that great Gingrichian view of the world in connecting ideas to reality. So I’d put it between Pence and Gingrich for Trump."