This book has been read before. After failing to win a nomination, a presidential candidate will rule out accepting an offer to be vice president. However, they later changed their mind and accepted the offer of the party nominee. Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican presidential candidate, continues to claim that he will not accept a VP offer.
The question is whether the nearly billionaire entrepreneur will actually stick to his claims, unlike some past presidential candidates. I believe he will — and we’ll discuss some of the reasons later.
Neil Cavuto, the Fox News host, asked the popular but long-shot candidate if he was willing to accept the second slot in 2024 if he failed to win the nomination. Ramaswamy did not waver.
Neil, the truth is that many of these people did not know me six months ago. Donald Trump and I have something in common: we both struggle to hold down the number two position. I am built to lead the organizations I have built. I believe that my biggest contribution to the federal government is to bring this country together. If I am in charge of the federal government, I will be in a better position to achieve that goal.
Ramaswamy was right to say that Donald Trump and he are both hardwired not to be second bananas in any situation.
2024 presidential candidate @VivekGRamaswamy (R) tells Neil he would turn down an offer to run as Vice President: “I’ve been very clear. I’m not interested in a different position in the government.” pic.twitter.com/p42Ayl5fxA
— Neil Cavuto (@TeamCavuto) August 19, 2023
Ramaswamy said he was “very clear” and that the vice president has little or no influence to affect change.
It’s my main focus — I have been clear that I am not interested in any other position within the government. I would rather drive change in the private sector than become a second or third position in the federal government.
Kamala Harris, a Kamala Harris who is ineffective and unreliable, was not available to comment.
Vivek remained firm after Cavuto asked him again if he would actually decline the job of “heartbeats away from the president”.
Neil, I am. The reason for that is that this would make sense if it were my quest for power. This is not about that. This is about revitalizing our lost national identity and reaching out to the next generation who are disaffected by political life — a crisis in national pride.
My job is to ensure that my sons, and the next generation of citizens, are proud to be Americans again. Neil, I believe we are already doing this in the campaign. We’re bringing young people along in droves. I wanted to be the best person to do this as the next President.
Ramaswamy then focused on the children’s generation, and his desire to bring about change.
The 38-year-old has certainly made some mistakes on the campaign trail. These include his unwise comments about “evaluating the pardons of members of Biden’s family in the interests of moving the country forward,” if elected president. This is assuming, of course, that the members of Biden’s family are in a position to be pardoned. Also, his controversial remarks about ending U.S. Aid to Israel.
Ramaswamy is not the only presidential candidate who has made controversial statements without considering the unintended consequences.
Conclusion:
Vivek would be an asset to the Republican Party in its efforts to attract younger voters. However, I do not believe – as he stated – that he is second-banana material. Not just for the reasons that he gave, but also for another he did not:
Vivek Ramaswamy has undeniable intelligence. He is likely to be smarter than most of the other candidates who would offer him the position of veep if they were to win the nomination.
Ramaswamy could be in a difficult position if he accepts a vice-presidential offer. He may also ruin any plans he had to run for the GOP nomination.
Smart people tend to not only think about the present; they also consider the future, and how current decisions can adversely affect their future. If I happened to be a 38-year near billionaire with most of my life before me, I’d make the exact same call.
The question is: Will Ramaswamy ultimately change his mind? I don’t think he will — which would be to his credit.
