HOUSTON ∙ Being second in command of the most powerful country in the world is no easy task. But there's no question that things have been tougher than usual for Mike Pence, vice president under Donald Trump. When rioters 'ran loose' on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, they had a specific target, the outgoing Vice President. They shouted, 'Hang Mike Pence! Hang Mike Pence!'
As extensive congressional hearings on the rebellion later documented, the threats were not empty. Mike Pence told FBI investigators that some far-right insurgents would have tried to kill him 'given the chance'. Pence saved his life, barely.
Trump, who lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden, lured the rioters to the Capitol, the federal investigation alleges. The job of Vice President of the United States is not an ordinary one at the best of times. Whoever is chosen to run alongside Trump in this year's election will no doubt keep Pence's experience in mind. It may be someone who can convince Trump of unwavering loyalty. The former president and his supporters would expect nothing less.
Some calculations
A vice presidential candidate is usually chosen based on political calculation. For example, a presidential nominee's weaknesses (whether they are real or perceived) can be seen in Running Mate.
For example, as a relatively young northerner, John F. Kennedy chose Lyndon B. Johnson, a more politically experienced southerner. In his first run, Trump made Pence his running mate to offset his weakness with evangelical voters.
Scott Bloomberg is the only black Republican in the South Carolinian Senate, dubbed 'Trump's new black best friend'. She revealed her love for Trump and recently announced her engagement. During the Republican campaign for the presidential nomination, Ramaswamy had presented himself as the new and shiny Trump. In one memorable moment in the debate, he raised his hand first when the candidates were asked who would still support Trump if convicted of a felony.
Trump would no doubt be pleased with such public professions of loyalty. But Trump gives no indication that race is an issue for his candidacy. His work is actually quite the opposite.
There are signs that Trump is leaning toward increasingly extreme racism. If he thought race was important, he would behave differently. Trump's political rise began with racist 'birther' conspiracies about Obama.
Given the cult of personality surrounding Trump, some argue that his VP running mate is unlikely to swing many votes. They argue that the VP is not that important to Trump. However, other astute observers of American politics argue the opposite. Given the ages of Trump and Biden, the VP pick is even more important than usual. This is due to a higher-than-normal chance of being elevated to the Oval Office.