Donald Trump is meeting with Sen. Joni Ernst Monday amid speculation that the Iowa Republican could be a potential vice presidential pick.
“I look forward to meeting [Ernst] today in New Jersey. She has done a great job as Senator of Iowa!,” the GOP presumptive nominee
said in a tweet Monday morning.
{mosads}Trump’s comments come after an unidentified senior Trump adviser told CNN that Ernst, a GOP up-and-comer who joined the Senate in 2015, is on the businessman’s list for the No. 2 spot.
The adviser
told CNN that it is unclear if the Iowa senator is interested in the position, “as opposed to others who have said, ‘Thanks, let’s play ball.’ ” The meeting with Ernst comes ahead of an expected meeting with the Senate Republican caucus this week.
Trump fired off a handful of tweets Monday related to his hunt for a vice president, noting, in a separate tweet, that people saying they aren’t interested in the spot haven’t been asked.
The GOP candidate also praised Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, a Republican, and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on Monday. Both politicians are considered potential VP picks for Trump.
Trump said he was “very impressed” with Pence and his family after they met over the weekend. Pence, who is in the middle of his own reelection bid, has been floated as a potential choice for the party’s de facto nominee.
Marc Lotter, deputy campaign manager for Pence’s re-election campaign,
said in a statement that “nothing was offered” during the weekend sit-down.
“The Pences enjoyed spending a warm, productive time with the Trumps. They talked about policies that are working in Indiana and the future of our country,” he added.
Trump also lauded Cotton for an interview with NBC’s Chuck Todd, saying “despite a totally one-sided interview… the end result was solid!”
The brash businessman has suggested he wants a VP pick who would be comfortable with the inner workings of Congress, raising questions about if he would select a current lawmaker.
Trump told Hugh Hewitt earlier this year that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Cotton were “high on the list for something at least” and the Arkansas senator is a “very talented guy.”
But Cotton told a local radio station last month that he was not being vetted for the VP post and he didn’t expect to be.
The Washington Post reported late last month that Christie and former Speaker Newt Gingrich currently top Trump’s list of potential running mates.
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