Oddsmakers Have a Clear Favorite Among Trump’s VP Options
(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Oddsmakers are keeping a close eye on the race to become Donald Trump’s vice presidential pick — with just months until November’s election.
According to Oddschecker, a betting site that tracks and compares odds in sports and more, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) leading the pack of potential picks at odds just shy of 5-1. The South Carolina senator’s status as the tepid favorite suggests the race is still wide open. And indeed, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) is a strong second choice at 6-1. Sens. J.D. Vance (R-PA) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) are also both considered serious contenders in the betting market — with odds of roughly 8-1 and 9-1, respectively.
Multiple outlets reported this week that Trump’s campaign has finalized its list of potential VP candidates. The list includes Vance, Rubio, Scott, Burgum, as well as Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Byron Donalds (R-FL).
Both Stefanik and Donalds on Oddschecker’s list, but both are regarded as longshots — with the former getting 22-1 odds and the latter pulling 54-1 odds.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) was once considered a top contender to be Trump’s running mate, but revelations from her memoir sparked major controversy, including her oddly claiming she met North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, which ended up being not true, as well as her admission to killing a puppy she deemed untrainable.
“She had a bad week. We all have bad weeks,” Trump recently said of Noem and her controversies, calling her “terrific” and calling the dog admission a “tough story.”
