According to a recent report from the New York Times, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) has emerged as a top contender to be former President Donald Trump’s running mate this year. Cotton would be an excellent choice for numerous reasons, as his foreign policy expertise, relative distance from Mar-a-Lago, and credibility among Reaganite Republicans would have a unifying effect for the ticket, especially when compared to other potential picks such as Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH).

As it stands right now, voters who supported former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley in the presidential primary remain sought after by both the Biden and Trump campaigns. Haley’s voting bloc remained resilient well after she dropped out of the race, mostly due to anti-Trump protest votes. Even after Haley’s recent (semi-)endorsement of the Republican nominee, many of her supporters remain wary of supporting either Trump or Biden. While Haley would probably be the single best vice presidential pick to win these voters, neither she nor Trump seem interested in this possibility.