Joe Biden and Donald Trump squared off four years ago and are on track for the first major party rematch between a current and former president since 1892. Biden and Trump are the oldest presidential candidates in history, and each man has an established political brand. Biden first one federal office in 1972. And it has been over a decade since the GOP nominated someone other than Donald Trump. In other words, the 2024 election is a repeat. And yet, as familiar as the campaign may seem, there remain several unknowns. Foremost among them is the identity of Donald Trump’s running mate. Trump’s pick may not figure heavily in voters decisions this fall, but it will say something about where Trump wants the GOP to go in 2028 and beyond. When Trump picked Mike Pence in 2016, he was interested in uniting in the Republican Party. Pence was a successful two term governor of Indiana, who had served in Congress and had extensive ties to evangelical Christian voters who were reluctant at first to board the Trump Train. What’s more pensez communication skills and steady demeanor provided ballasts to the top of the ticket. And pence his principled conservatism worked out over years and talk radio before entering politics reassured center right voters who worried that Trump’s National populism might run amok in the White House. Eight years later, the situation has changed. Trump and Pence have barely said a word to one another since the riot at the Capitol on January 6 2021. The former Vice President also made history in March when he said he would not endorse his former boss in this year’s election. Meanwhile, Trump seems uninterested in uniting the party behind him. He has done little to win over Nikki Haley voters in the suburbs and estates rights position on abortion may depress pro life voter turnout. Trump sees no reason to unify the Republican Party. He is the party. That is why the former President seems more interested in choosing a loyalist who looks good on television players in the Veep stakes. Let’s include Ohio Senator JD Vance, a leader in Trump’s Magga movement, as well as governor Kristi, noem of South Dakota, and Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota. Congresswoman Elise Stefanik of New York is on the list as his Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Two outsider candidates are former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, an online personality Tucker Carlson. Trump does have some political interests to consider. He has long wanted to increase his support among minority groups such as Hispanic voters and black men. Both voting bloc seem to be trending in his direction this year. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida is the son of Cuban immigrants who spent time growing up in Nevada. He comes up often during discussions of Trump’s running mate that Rubio faces a barrier to his election. The 12th Amendment to the Constitution forbids a president and vice president from residing in the same state. The Trump team is no doubt looking into a workaround, but there is no guarantee that they will find one. Trump is also considering Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina and Dr. Ben Carson, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is selected, they will be the first black Americans to appear on a Republican presidential ticket. Senator Scott’s advantage is that he’s likeable and inspiring. Dr. Carson strength is his low key presence and status as a Washington outsider. Vice Presidents may not matter much to electoral outcomes, but they do matter to media and cultural institutions, and thereby shape public perceptions of campaigns and parties. I would say the threat to a presidential candidate selecting someone the media for good or ill finds more interesting. So who will trump choose? I would also put former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Virginia Governor Glenn Younkin on Trump’s shortlist, but in the end, your guess is as good as mine. Just remember though, whoever Trump picks his vice president, he may want to leave space for a family member to succeed him.