Trump Closes In on Veep Choice

The list of candidates to join presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump on the campaign trail appears to have winnowed to just a few names.

Leading the speculation race now are former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

“I’ll tell you one thing, folks: I’m not saying it’s Newt, but if it’s Newt, nobody’s going to be beating him in those debates.”

Gingrich joined Trump in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Wednesday to demonstrate what he could offer the ticket in the way of Clinton take-downs.

“Is there a single person here who believes that if you had done what Hillary Clinton, that you would not be prosecuted?” Gingrich asked the crowd. Gingrich slammed the apparent double standard, saying anyone who wasn’t a Clinton “would be facing a grand jury, not an election.”

Gingrich also praised the remarkable ability of Trump to appeal to a wide swath of Americans fed up with the misguided priorities of Washington.

“I know of no example in American history of a moment where a leader and the American people came together as fast as they have in the last year with Donald Trump,” he said to great applause.

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Trump himself was quick to reciprocate with his own compliments. “We all love Newt. Newt gets it.”

“I’ll tell you one thing, folks: I’m not saying it’s Newt, but if it’s Newt, nobody’s going to be beating him in those debates,” Trump said, “That’s for sure right? Nobody. Nobody’s beating on Newt in the debate.”

Two potential Trump veeps exited the consideration game on Wednesday, Joni Ernst of Iowa and Bob Corker of Tennessee — both declaring their desire to remain in Congress.

“I made that very clear to him that I’m focused on Iowa. I feel I have a lot more to do in the United States Senate. And Iowa is where my heart is,” Ernst said.

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Corker also insisted the job wasn’t for him. “There are people far more suited for being a candidate for vice president, and I think I’m far more suited for other types of things,” he told CNN.

With Ernst and Corker out of contention, the focus has intensified on Gingrich and Christie — as well as longer shot picks like Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, or even little-known Georgia Sen. David Perdue.

Whoever Mr. Trump chooses, he’s indicated he wants a leader who can help with the job of governing and who will be able to work with Congress to pass legislation.