The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that Donald Trump was in search of an “attack dog” as his running mate. As far as job descriptions go, that’s akin to an accounting firm recruiting people who are “good with numbers”—it’s obvious, and it’s a prerequisite of the job. What’s newsy is the purpose for which Trump wants such a political pit bull: “to help him parry criticism on the campaign trail,” the Journal writes.
A running mate is typically an aggressor on the stump and the tube, blaring the virtues of the presidential nominee and censuring the opponent on cable news. But rarely in the TV age of politics—if at any time, at all—has it been so necessary for a vice-presidential choice to defend the top of the ticket as it will be with Trump.
Recall the interview that Chris Christie gave to ABC’s This Week as a newly minted Trump surrogate. Eight of his first ten responses to host George Stephanopoulos began like this: “Well, listen,” “No, it’s just not true,” “No,” “Well, listen, George,” “Listen,” Listen,” “Listen, I’m not saying,” and “Yes”—but oh no, not again—”and listen.”
It’s a difficult job, speaking on behalf of Trump. And on programs like This Week, his VP selection, whomever it is, is liable to start an answer to a question with “Hillary” as he is with “What Donald really meant to say was …” Trump doesn’t just need an attack dog. He needs a spin doctor.
Newt Gingrich, who has a facility with language on live television, would seem up to the task. He thinks well on his feet. He has a way of presenting himself as a populist and turning the tables against the media. Remember his spat with CNN’s John King during a 2012 presidential debate? He responded to a question about his past marital woes by saying, “I think the destructive, vicious, negative nature of much of the news media makes it harder to govern this country, makes it harder to attract decent people to run for public office.”
Gov. Christie has been similarly pugnacious; it’s been his style in office.
But Indiana governor Mike Pence, who Trump is said to be weighing against Gingrich as his running mate, struggled with media controversy in his last go-around in the national spotlight. His missteps in defending his state’s religious freedom law, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, hardened negative opinion among liberals and disappointed social conservatives. As Michael Warren wrote in April last year:
If Pence is to be Trump’s selection, he’ll have it at least as hard defending Trump as he did defending RFRA.
