South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem's recent admission to shooting her dog and a false claim about meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have raised concerns about her suitability as Donald Trump's running mate.
Kristi Noem, once considered a frontrunner on the shortlist of potential running mates for Donald Trump, has seen her chances dwindle following a series of self-inflicted controversies. The South Dakota governor's admission in a book excerpt to shooting her dog for attacking a neighbor's chickens has drawn widespread criticism, while her claim to have met with Kim Jong Un has been deemed false.
Political analysts and strategists point to the principle of "doing no harm" when evaluating vice presidential picks, and Noem's recent controversies have raised concerns that her selection would overshadow the campaign and create unnecessary drama.
"The first rule of a VP pick is to do no harm," said Axiom Strategies' Erin Perrine. "Noem's recent self-inflicted controversies have shown her potential selection would likely not provide support to the Trump candidacy without drama."
Perrine criticized Noem's handling of the book controversy, calling it "incredibly poorly," and noted that it could hinder her consideration.
"It’s easy to see how her selection could cause heartburn and doubt. These controversies will continue to be part of the conversation around her for some time. While Noem brings strengths to the table, these controversies would overshadow her candidacy and make her a more contentious choice for the VP slot," said Perrine.
Democratic strategist Kevin Walling echoed these concerns, labeling Noem's book a "total disaster." He emphasized the importance of TV appearances for Trump and pointed to Noem's inability to answer questions about her own biography as an embarrassment.
Pollster and political analyst Scott Rasmussen declared that Noem "could have been an interesting option before her book release. At this point, she is no longer a serious contender."
Despite her recent stumbles, Noem possesses strengths that could potentially benefit Trump's campaign. As a two-term governor with both executive and legislative experience, she would provide gender and generational balance to the ticket.
Perrine argued that Noem's conservative views on issues like abortion could play a role similar to Mike Pence's in 2016, engaging with the hard right of the GOP voter base. Walling acknowledged Noem's appeal to younger voters and her ability to deflect Democratic attacks on the GOP's stance on women's issues.
Noem is expected to attend another fundraiser with Trump in New York City on Tuesday. It remains unclear when Trump will announce his vice presidential pick, but he has hinted that it could be shortly before the July RNC convention.
Other potential running mates under consideration include South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, House GOP Conference Chair Eliste Stefanik, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.
