Experts make case for Stefanik as VP choice
Stoddard author packs them in in Queensbury event
By Ken Tingley
The political website 538 posted a debate between four of its reporters/editors/contributors about who might be Donald Trump’s running mate in 2024.
Rep. Elise Stefanik was one of the four possible candidates mentioned.
The experts included Tia Yang, an editor/reporter at 538, Monica Potts, the senior politics reporter, Nathaniel Rakich, senior editor and elections analyst and Meredith Conroy, a political scientist professor at California State-San Bernardino who is also a 538 contributor.
Each took a turn choosing their top choice.
Conroy went first and chose South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott.
Potts followed with Kari Lake, the Arizona gubernatorial candidate who lost by a hair in the 2020 election and is now running for a U.S. Senate seat in Arizona.
Rakich opted for South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem.
Finally, it was Yang’s turn. She admitted her top picks were taken, so she suggested Rep. Elise Stefanik.
Oh my!
“With Trump constitutionally term-limited to one more term were he to win again in 2024, the VP slot could be an even bigger prize than usual for Republicans trying to get on the fast track to a 2028 candidacy,” Yang said.
Double oh my!
Even if Trump lost next year, Stefanik could be set up to to be the leading candidate for the GOP in 2028.
“Stefanik has shown a clear interest in rising within the party and aptitude for doing so,” Yang continued.
Rakich followed up by saying if Noem did not make the cut, Stefanik “is one of the most likely picks.”
“Unlike some of the other names we’ve discussed, she actually could be a bridge to suburban women,” Rakich noted. “As you mentioned, she has a pretty moderate voting record and she could code-switch into pragmatic bridge-building talk more easily than someone like Noem.”
Conroy then jumped on board.
“I think she’s a very likely choice for Trump,” Conroy said. “She is the highest ranking Republican woman in the House, and although she initially campaigned for her seat on a platform that would appeal to young millennials, she has since taken a turn and aligned herself with Trump, big time! We even noticed in our annual primary endorsement analysis that her leadership PAC, E-PAC, had taken a step back from endorsements in 2022. So yeah, her priorities have shifted, so you have to assume there’s a reason for that.”
Potts confirmed that Stefanik was on her list, too.
Rakich said she was his second pick after Noem.
“I think Stefanik would be a strong VP pick in any year just based on her trajectory,” Yang said. “The fact that she’s gotten there while successfully navigating House Republican leaderships and the Trump-GOP dynamic makes it all the more impressive.”
Obviously, the VP selection is still months away, but it shows that Stefanik is indeed in the running.
It also might be the only way we will get a new congressional representative. So there could be good news.
Author and Stoddard
Since the Chapman Museum unveiled the Seneca Ray Stoddard exhibit, I’ve been reading Dr. Daniel Way’s book on the famous Glens Falls photographer.
Way drew 40 or so people to the Masonic Historical Society in Queensbury Thursday night with a slide show about his book, his family connection to Stoddard and his own lifetime fascination with the photography.
Way, a doctor by trade, never let that get in the way of his own passion for photography and his interest in Stoddard. Way continually found photographs and references to Stoddard and his family in his own family’s archives.
“I sort of feel related to him in spirit,” Way said.
The Stoddard exhibit at the Chapman will continue into January.
George Santos
The ethics report on Rep. George Santos was so damning, many Republicans were immediately saying they would for the expulsion of the Long Island congressman.
New Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, said the report was “troubling.”
As of Friday afternoon, there was no word from Rep. Elise Stefanik how she felt about the Santos’ future. She had endorsed him during his campaign.
Stefanik and clown car
Rep. Elise Stefanik is drawing attention in Arizona after endorsing Republican Kari Lake. After Stefanik endorsed Lake for the U.S. Senate in Arizona, I stumbled on this commentary by E.J. Montini of the Arizona Republic.
The subhead on the column says this: “Opinion: With indicted, shamed GOP Rep. George Santos leaving Congress, Stefanik has space available in her clown car and Lake is happy to jump in.”
That’s a pretty colorful headline.
Trump is extremely superficial and normally chooses very attractive women to be by his side. I would be surprised if he chose Stefanik but it would really depend on his advisers influence on his choice. That has certainly been her goal.
As if we need another reason to vote first Biden.