Campaign insiders say Donald Trump has zeroed in on a single policy issue as he considers who would be his 2024 running mate.
The former president boasted this week that he was responsible for the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade but added abortion rights should be decided by the states. But sources told CNN that Trump is seeking out a running mate who shares what he appears to believe is a nuanced position on the issue, which has cost Republicans in election after election.
"Those familiar with the vice presidential search say Trump is closely studying how his potential picks have approached the divisive issue in the past, believing it’s one of the few issues Democrats could successfully exploit," reported CNN.
"In private conversations with advisers and allies, Trump regularly asks where specific individuals stand on the issue and is particularly keen on learning their position on exceptions for victims of rape and incest and when the health of the mother is in danger."
"Trump, who has at times expressed disbelief at Republicans who oppose exceptions," the network added, "has indicated he would look unfavorably on a candidate who doesn’t support them, at times characterizing it as a nonstarter."
The former president chose Mike Pence in his first go-round in 2016 specifically for his staunch opposition to abortion, but he attacked his former vice president overnight Tuesday for criticizing his approach to reproductive rights — and somehow suggested that Pence was soft on the issue.
"He started at no abortion for any reason, and then allowing abortions for up to 6 weeks, then up to 15 weeks, and then, who knows?" Trump posted on Truth Social. "But it doesn’t matter because the Radical Left Democrats will never approve anything on this issue, and Republicans don’t have anywhere close to the number of Senators necessary to make it matter."
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said Trump was "exactly right" to punt the issue to states, although she did not comment on his support for exceptions for rape and incest, and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) balked at commenting on the differences between the former president's proposal and his own support for a federal ban.
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Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) once voiced support for the Texas ban on abortion without exceptions, except in some limited cases, but agreed last year with Trump that Republicans should approach the issue with an eye on elections instead of imposing blanket bans.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) has previously backed abortion bans, even when the pregnancy is the result of rape, but has said he would support legislation that included some exceptions to help ensure its passage.
Even Kari Lake, who ran for Arizona governor calling to restore an 1864 state law banning all abortions, issued a statement as a U.S. Senate candidate opposing the state Supreme Court ruling that ordered the state to adhere to that law.