As convention inches closer, Trump holds rally in Miami amid growing VP speculation

CNN —

Throughout the week of the presidential debate, some members of former President Donald Trump’s team were already beginning to focus on another potentially big race-defining event: the roll out of his vice-presidential pick.

There are not signs and merchandise featuring the names of Trump’s potential contenders sitting in a warehouse waiting to be shared with his supporters. Any plotting of the potential announcement or rollout has been handled with enormous secrecy so as not to tip off speculation about the selection.

But last week, aides and production staff were sent to Trump’s Doral resort in Miami to build out a space for a rally scheduled for July 9. The timing and proximity of the rally to Florida Sen. Marco Rubio’s home – sure to ignite predictions about Trump’s selection – was purely coincidental, sources familiar with the event planning told CNN. Rubio, along with Ohio Sen. JD Vance and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, sit atop Trump’s shortlist for the job.

Still, among staff and allies, speculation has raged as to whether the Miami event would feature Trump’s long-awaited announcement. And even those closest to the former president continue to insist they are in the dark as to who his ultimate choice will be.

Advisers stressed that regardless of the planning around events, the former president would have the final word on where and when his vice presidential pick would be announced. Trump has given himself until the Republican convention in Milwaukee later this month to make a pick and recently told a Virginia television station he will be “making a decision sometime early convention or before convention.”

“As President Trump has said himself, the top criteria in selecting a Vice President is a