Republicans Urge Trump To Pick Running Mate Who Can Win Nikki Haley Voters

WASHINGTON — Nikki Haley dropped out of the GOP presidential primary more than two months ago, but her zombie candidacy is still drawing a significant number of votes in late-season contests — enough to make Republicans anxious over what this could mean for their presumptive nominee, Donald Trump, and whomever he chooses as his running mate.

Voters who spurned Trump might be brought back into the Republican fold if he picks a centrist vice presidential candidate in the mold of Haley, the ex-South Carolina governor and Trump’s first United Nations ambassador, who seems to have zero interest in joining his ticket. But it’s not clear whether any of the people currently on his veep shortlist — mostly MAGA senators and governors — can capture the voters who want to move on from Trump.

Republicans floated as possible running mates include Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida, Tim Scott of South Carolina and J.D. Vance of Ohio, as well as Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem — even after Noem was pilloried for describing in a new book how she killed her aggressive hunting dog. None of them is seen as a likely vessel for winning over Haley’s staunchest fans.

GOP senators suggested that going after disaffected Haley voters should be a priority for Trump, who is narrowly leading in swing-state polls but fighting legal battles that make his political future uncertain.

“I think the population we need to be going after is this 17% of people that are not voting for President Trump in a primary even though Nikki is not even in the primary,” Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) said Wednesday, referring to Haley’s share of the vote in Pennsylvania’s GOP primary last month. “I think he needs to