North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum is a possible frontrunner on former President Trump's running mate shortlist, but experts have identified several potential drawbacks that could make his selection a risky bet.
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum is being considered as a potential running mate for former President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. A successful businessman and two-term governor, Burgum has been praised for his leadership and conservative policies. However, experts have raised concerns about his name recognition, lack of a "wow factor," and potential vulnerabilities due to his wealth and absence from North Dakota.
One of the main concerns raised about Burgum is his lack of name recognition. Despite running in the Republican presidential primaries last year, Burgum remains relatively unknown to the national electorate. This could be a significant disadvantage in a high-profile race where candidates need to connect with voters on a personal level.
GOP strategist Dave Polyansky argued that while firing up the base is not the primary purpose of a running mate, there is no "overwhelming cry" from Republicans for Burgum to be the pick. He believes that Burgum lacks the charisma and excitement that would appeal to the Republican base and drive voter turnout.
Veteran Republican strategist Karl Rove agreed with Polyansky, stating that Burgum's name recognition is a problem. He also expressed concerns about Burgum's limited experience outside of North Dakota, arguing that the battle for the presidency is likely to be decided by voters in key battleground states such as Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Wisconsin.
Rove further predicted that Burgum's wealth could make him a target for the left. If selected as Trump's running mate, Burgum's personal finances and business dealings would likely come under intense scrutiny.
Republican strategist Erin Perrine acknowledged that Burgum's nomination would not be as deeply controversial as other potential selections, but she shared Rove's concerns about his lack of visibility beyond North Dakota. Perrine also noted that Burgum's previous statement that he would not serve as Trump's running mate and the potential for intensified media scrutiny due to his absence from North Dakota could further complicate his selection.
Some sources close to the Trump campaign have expressed more skepticism about Burgum's candidacy. They cite his low name recognition and his limited experience outside of North Dakota as significant drawbacks.
Despite these concerns, Burgum does have several strong qualities that could make him a valuable asset to Trump's campaign. As a two-term governor of a major energy- and agricultural-producing state, Burgum has a proven track record of leadership. He has also been credited with championing education reform, tax cuts, and government reform.
Additionally, Burgum is a successful businessman who built a tech company, Great Plains Software, which he later sold to Microsoft. He served as a top executive at Microsoft before entering politics. His business acumen and experience in the private sector could be seen as a positive attribute for Trump's campaign.
Experts have also praised Burgum's communication skills. He has been described as a "great, very agile and pretty effective communicator" who is able to articulate his message clearly and effectively. This would be a valuable asset for Trump's campaign, which would likely face strong opposition from the Democrats and the media.
While Burgum is a potential frontrunner on Trump's running mate shortlist, several factors could potentially derail his selection. His lack of name recognition, the absence of a "wow factor," his limited experience outside of North Dakota, and the potential for vulnerabilities due to his wealth and absence from the state could make him a risky choice. However, Burgum's strong leadership qualities, business experience, and communication skills could also make him a valuable asset to Trump's campaign.
