At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Friday, New York Rep. Elise Stefanik took the stage amidst a high-energy video montage, repeatedly invoking the name of Donald Trump as she lauded the Republican presidential front-runner. The previous day, Florida Rep. Byron Donalds had only mentioned the former president twice during his opening speech, yet his foreign policy vision echoed Trump’s rhetoric.
Meanwhile, former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii seemed unaware that attendees could vote for her as Trump’s potential running mate. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, on the other hand, took the opportunity to critique other Republicans vying for the vice-presidential nomination.
The behind-the-scenes competition for Trump’s VP pick became a public spectacle at this year’s CPAC, the annual conservative gathering. The event seemed to serve as an audition for the role, with potential contenders including Stefanik, Donalds, Gabbard, Noem, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, and Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake.
Each contender attempted to appeal to Trump and his supporters in their own way, demonstrating unwavering loyalty to the former president and his movement, and showcasing their ability to defend Trump and attack his political opponents.
Addressing the legal challenges against Trump, Carson told the crowd, “They’re incredibly unfair and if we allow this to happen, America will never be the same again.”
CPAC organizers, conservative media figures, and even some VP contenders acknowledged that this year’s CPAC was the unofficial start to the vice-presidential selection process. “I guess I’m on the list,” Donalds said, adding, “Look at the end of the day, President Trump is gonna make that decision, not me.”
CPAC attendees were asked to vote for their preferred Trump running mate, with the results of the straw poll to be released on Saturday. Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union, suggested that Trump might consider these results when making his decision.
Trump himself has added to the speculation, praising many of the Republicans appearing at CPAC, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who was not present at the event. “Honestly, all of those people are good,” he said. “They’re all good. They’re all solid.”
The VP selection process has taken on the air of a reality TV show, with Trump publicly teasing names and welcoming the intrigue. The various approaches to campaigning for the job were on full display at CPAC, with contenders needing to demonstrate their conservative credentials and loyalty to Trump, without appearing overly eager for the role.
CPAC attendees from across the country are already speculating about Trump’s choice and weighing the pros and cons of each potential running mate. Edward X. Young, a 64-year-old from Brick, New Jersey, liked the idea of a “Donald/Donalds” ticket, while Bode Brewer, a 17-year-old from Reading, Pennsylvania, believes that the party’s diversification could be an advantage.
With the possibility of a Trump-Biden rematch, several CPAC attendees believe the party’s next vice-presidential pick should represent a new generation. “I believe we need new people,” said Genilde Guerra of Miami. “We cannot go to the old politicians that everyone’s so tired of.”
Trump’s advanced age should also be a factor in the VP selection, according to Philip Whitby, a 71-year-old from Winter Park, Florida. “It’s got to be somebody who can step in to be president,” he said. “Because anything could happen to Trump.”