Vivek Ramaswamy, former Trump rival, tops poll for vice president — RT World News

Former US presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy tied with South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as Donald Trump's top running mate pick among attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday. Trump said a wide range of candidates are being considered, including former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard.

Ramaswamy and Noem each received 15% in the informal poll, while Gabbard — who denounced her former party in 2022 as elitist warmongers — came in third with 9%. New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott ranked joint fourth with 8% each.

The poll is considered unusual because it was conducted while Trump had not yet secured the Republican Party nomination to face President Joe Biden next November. However, Trump has won all four Republican primary contests so far, and is viewed by allies and opponents alike as the party's presumptive nominee.

Later Saturday, the former president defeated his only remaining challenger, Nikki Haley, in her home state of South Carolina. Despite the blow, Haley vowed to stay in the race, calling it “duty” To represent the traditional institutional wing of the party.

Ramaswamy won support among Trump's base during his short-lived campaign with promises to eliminate federal bureaucracy, deport millions of illegal immigrants, cut off funding to Ukraine, and reevaluate the U.S. relationship with NATO, which he described as illegitimate. “expansive” Mass. In contrast to his fellow contenders — most notably Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis — Ramaswamy has refused to publicly criticize Trump, leading many critics to say his campaign was aimed at securing a place in a potential Trump administration.

The 38-year-old businessman Support Trump after the former president's landslide victory in Iowa last month, announcing his decision amid cheers “vice president” From Iowa fans. Ramaswamy has since traveled to New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina to support Trump, and is scheduled to campaign for his former rival in Michigan on Sunday.

Noem did not participate in the Republican primary. “I was one of the first people to support Donald Trump becoming president.” she said in her CPAC speech on Friday. “Last year, when everyone asked me if I would consider running, I said no. Why run for president when you know you can't win?

Gabbard spoke at the CPAC conference on Thursday, describing Trump as… “fighter” Which he drives “His sincere love and concern for the future of our country and his concern for the American people.” In a speech described by The Guardian newspaper as: “Test for Vice President” Gabbard denounced “The Democratic Elite and the Swamp Creatures of Washington” Such as the power-hungry war hawks and the recent court ruling against Trump's companies “A politically motivated hit job.”

When asked if Ramaswamy, Noem or Gabbard were members of the Trump family “Shortlist” He told Fox News host Laura Ingraham on Tuesday that “they.” The Republican front-runner also confirmed that Scott, DeSantis and Florida Congressman Byron Donalds are also under consideration.

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