In an alternate universe, Donald Trump’s choice for running mate would be obvious enough. Like Joe Biden and Barack Obama before him, the former president could theoretically complete his ticket and unify the party in one easy step by selecting his most formidable primary challenger, who also happens to fill a crucial demographic deficit currently reflected in Trump’s subpar polling among women and college-educated voters.
Just as Biden served as a seasoned counterpart to Obama’s youth and Kamala Harris’s youth and background provided cover for Biden’s age and relative lack of “diversity” in the 2020 identity politics primary, Nikki Haley for vice president would shore up a small but significant amount of women and college graduates who could otherwise cost Trump his third shot at the presidency.
