Full interview with potential VP contender Gov. Doug Burgum
13:58 - Source: CNN
Editor’s Note: Scott Jennings, a CNN senior political commentator and Republican campaign adviser, is a former special assistant to President George W. Bush and a former campaign adviser to Sen. Mitch McConnell. He is a partner at RunSwitch Public Relations in Louisville, Kentucky. Follow him on Twitter@ScottJenningsKY. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. View moreopinionon CNN.
CNN —
The race to become former President Donald Trump’s vice-presidential choice has taken an unexpected turn — the current frontrunner, if you believe the DC buzz machine, is a western governorwho, this time last year, very few people hadeverheard of.
Scott Jennings
Meet North Dakota’sGov.Doug Burgum. He, too,ran for presidentin the Republican primary, made a couple of debate stages, never escapedlow single digits in pollingand eventually, like the rest of the candidates, succumbed to theTrump juggernaut.
But since then, no one has played their cards better than the affable former businessman-turned-governor of the Peace Garden State (although Burgum would dispute that he even knows how to play political poker at all), and now he finds himself as well positioned as anyone to vault onto the national ticket.
Burgum was elected governor of North Dakota the same nightTrumpwas elected president in 2016, having never before sought public office. Both men ran outsider campaigns to upend insider types in their primary and general elections.
After eight years as governor, Burgum’s got a story to tell.North Dakotaisthriving economically, rankssecond in energy production per capitaand has alow unemployment rate. When talking to Burgum about his record, you can feel a passion for innovation and a true understanding of what the federal government can do to help — and hurt — individual states, especially when it comes toenergy policy.
After ending his presidential campaign, Burgumimmediately endorsed Trumpand became a reliable surrogate. Refreshingly, Burgum isnot the performative or theatrical sort,and it shows. The North Dakota governor conveys an earnestness and a deeply held belief that the country must be saved from another Biden term.
“Working with President Trump as a governor was like having a beautiful breeze at your back,”Burgum said at a huge Trump rally in New Jerseythis past weekend. He added that the “Biden regulatory regime is like having a gale force wind in your face because the Biden bureaucrats are treating our constitutional republic like a dictatorship.”
Clearly, Trump also likes Burgum personally. During Trump’s presidency, Burgum’s wife,Kathryn,attended a White House eventon fighting addiction. She’s been a powerful advocate for those, like herself, who suffered from alcoholism, and Trump has publicly reflected on his late brother’sbattle with the disease.
What’s the argument for Burgum?He’s amiddle America governor who cares more about the economy and the intersection of energy policy and national security thanpolitical self-aggrandizement,a self-made businessman who could be a boon to Trump campaign fundraising and a no-drama governing partner who clearly has a passion fortaming federal bureaucracy.
Oh — and he hasn’t turned his Dakota into a gruesome pet cemetery,unlike his neighbor to the South.
If you consider Trump to be, in his heart, a casting director, there’s no one in America who looks and sounds more like a loyal vice president than Burgum, who evenaccompaniedTrumpin court on Tuesday to show his support. Burgum hasproven capable inbusinessand government,and Trump must surely appreciate the hustle of Burgum defending him against what the former president believes to be a criminal casemotivated by politics.Of course, Burgum is hardly the only Republican politician to make a visit to the newest stop on the VP hopeful tour. Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance accompanied the presumptive GOP presidential nominee to the Manhattan courtroom on Monday.
“You won’t find anybody better than this gentleman in terms of his knowledge … he probably knows more about energy than anybody I know. So, get ready for something, okay, just get ready. But Doug Burgum has been incredible,”Trump said of his Jersey Shore stage mate.
To be sure, Trump has a lot of fine, politically defensible choices. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott has an inspirationallifestory andcould help Trump continue to persuade African American men, who seemincreasinglyweary of Bidenand the Democratic Party.Scottis respectedby all corners of the GOP and is a gifted public speaker.
Sens.Marco Rubioof Florida andJ.D. Vanceof Ohio are Trump’s smoothest Senate surrogates, who effortlessly explain and defend the former president on national television.
Trump’s former White House Press Secretary and current Arkansas Gov.Sarah Huckabee Sandersand New York Rep.Elise Stefanikhave both ferociously defended Trump against Democratic attacks, of which there’s sure to be an onslaught in the fall.
But in Burgum, Trump may seea version ofhimself — a successful businessman who tackled politics late in life totry tosmash a broken system run by inept politicians who couldn’t innovate their way out of a wet paper sack.
