Trump says there's a 'good 40% chance' he'll pick one of his former Republican primary competitors as a running mate
By Adam Edelman
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said on Thursday that he is considering one of his former competitors as a running mate. (Mary Altaffer/AP)
Donald Trump said Thursday there's a "40% chance" he would pick one of his former competitors in the Republican primary as his running mate.
The presumptive GOP presidential nominee, whose pivotal Indiana win Tuesday cemented his status as the odd-on favorite for the nomination, has already begun vetting possible vice presidential picks, leading many insiders to speculate who could make the short list.
And Trump appears prepared to pick someone he ran against.
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"I've gotten to be friends with a lot of those people and I guess perhaps enemies with a couple," the brash billionaire said on CNBC's "Squawk Box."
"I would say there's a good 40% chance," he added, when asked if he would pick one his former rivals as his running mate.
The comments could add fuel to the fire over rumors that former rivals like Ben Carson, Marco Rubio, Chris Christie and Scott Walker are likely to make Trump's short list.
On Wednesday, Trump admitted he wanted a politician as his No. 2, saying during an interview with MSNBC that he was looking for "somebody who can help me with legislation … somebody who can help me get things passed and somebody who's friends with the senators and the congressmen."
But he also said his eventual selection committee would include Carson, leading many to believe the retired neurosurgeon would also get a serious look.