GOP senator on Trump’s VP hunt: ‘I know nothing’

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) on Monday denied that Donald Trump is considering him as a potential running mate.

“I know nothing,” he said, according to NBC News. “I have no clue about what their process is. I don’t have any reason to think I’m in that mix.”

{mosads}Thune, chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, said he remains open to communicating with Trump’s presidential campaign, however.

“Well, I think you always take the call,” he said. “It would be rude [not to], you know. In South Dakota, we’re not rude.”

Thune, 55, said he has not spoken with Trump’s campaign about any role with the presumptive GOP presidential nominee’s ticket.

NBC News cited Thune’s evangelical Christian faith and ties with Republican leadership as potential advantages for Trump. Thune is up for reelection this November.

Last Friday, the South Dakota Republican criticized Trump’s visit to Scotland, arguing it was an unnecessary distraction amid the ongoing presidential race.

“[Trump should] get back here and get on the campaign trail,” he told Morning Consult. “This sounds like more of a trip to associate with his business interests.”

Speculation over Trump’s running mate is growing less than three weeks out from the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.

Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s former campaign manager, said last week the businessman has four names left on his shortlist.

“These are people everybody will know,” he told CNN on June 23. “They are household names. People will be very, very happy when he decides on one of these individuals.

“These are individuals who are who are of the highest quality, who are ready and able to serve. They’d be ready to go on day one. There’d be no on-the-job training here. They will help him achieve his legislative agenda.”