Republicans are fearing a nasty Primary that could give President Joe Biden the early advantage heading into the 2024 general election.
But while the contest for the top spot appears to be a two-man race, the real jockeying for position is focused on the second spot on the ticket.
And now this female Governor just said the one thing that could make her the frontrunner to be the running mate for either former President Donald Trump or Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Who’s in and who’s out?
Polling shows nearly 80% of Republican voters favor either former President Donald Trump or Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as their first choice to represent the party in the 2024 Presidential elections.
However, Trump and DeSantis aren’t the only ones in the race.
Nearly every rumored candidate has announced their intentions to run.
Tech entrepreneur and author Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Governors Chris Christie and Asa Hutchinson of New Jersey and Arkansas respectively, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, radio host Larry Elder, and more.
However, one of the most heavily talked about names discussed in political circles has declined a bid.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem will not be making a run for the White House in 2024 – at least not at the top of the ticket.
Noem is avoiding the fray
In a radio interview with KWAT, Gov. Noem was asked about the candidacy of Republican North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and if she’d join him in the race.
“Wouldn’t that be interesting? If there were South and North Dakota Governors running for President? But now, right now, I am so focused on South Dakota,” Noem said.
Noem has been a highly-effective Governor for her state over the past four years and easily sailed to reelection in the 2022 Midterms.
She was right there with DeSantis as two of the strongest leaders for their respective states during the COVID pandemic.
Noem took a hard stand against China buying land in her state and was one of the first to ban TikTok.
And in the one spot, she made a misstep – vetoing a bill preventing men from playing in girls’ sports – she publicly apologized, acknowledged she was misinformed about the bill and was wrong, and has actively taken steps to rectify the mistake.
Noem is also relatively young, attractive, and has the type of personality and focus on hard-working Americans that could resonate with rust belt voters Republicans will need to win over if they want any chance of unseating President Joe Biden in 2024.
However, for all those same reasons, South Dakota’s Governor could make an ideal running mate for whoever emerges from the GOP Primary.
Future Vice President Noem?
And she seemed to have that in mind when she was asked if she’d be supporting Gov. Burgum’s candidacy with an official endorsement.
“No, I don’t think so,” Noem answered, suggesting she wouldn’t be issuing any formal endorsements in the contest. “President Trump is in the race and right now I don’t see a path to victory for anybody else with him in the race and the situation as it sits today. But I think people should saddle up — it could be a roller coaster of a Presidential race.”
That’s the exact type of answer that will keep Noem at the top of everyone’s VEEP shortlist.
In the meantime, Noem will remain focused on delivering for the people of South Dakota.
