Former Bill Clinton strategist Paul Begala thinks President Trump is going to swap running mates in 2020.
The CNN political analyst made the prediction during a Monday panel event at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s annual conference. Begala, who was a chief strategist during Clinton’s 1992 campaign, said he thinks Pence will be replaced as vice president on Trump’s ticket with Nikki Haley, his former U.N. ambassador.
“This is not a prediction. It’s a certainty,” Begala said. “On Thursday, July 16 — that’s the date the Democrat gives her or his acceptance address — on that day, to interrupt that narrative, Donald Trump will call a press conference at Mar-a-Lago.”
“He’s going to dump Mike Pence and put Nikki Haley on the ticket to try to get those suburban moms,” he predicted.
Trump recently put Pence in charge of coordinating U.S. efforts to combat the new strain of coronavirus, COVID-19. Some have criticized Pence’s selection over his handling of an HIV outbreak in Indiana.
As of Monday evening, there have been at least 100 infections in a dozen states and six deaths. Meanwhile, a recent poll found that half of the country thinks the outbreak is likely to become a national crisis.
“You watch. Guaranteed,” Begala said. “Trump put Pence in charge of coronavirus to throw him under the bus.”
Haley, who was Trump’s U.N. ambassador from January 2017 to December 2018, has consistently tamped down rumors that she would replace Pence on the 2020 ticket. Trump has also distanced himself from the concept, saying that Pence “is a great vice president” and “our man 100%,” although he did say Haley would be involved in his reelection campaign.
“She is a friend of mine. She endorsed me with the most beautiful endorsement you’ve ever heard,” he said. “She did a great job at the U.N.”
