Who would Tim Scott pick as his vice president? He has a potential list of names

Presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Tim Scott has four names of who might be on his potential running mate shortlist if he were to win the Republican nomination.

South Carolina’s junior senator listed Trey Gowdy, who served in the House for eight years; former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who was director of National Intelligence for less than a year during the Trump administration; and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu.

Scott gave the list Wednesday during an event in New Hampshire after he was asked about who would be on his vice presidential shortlist, according to Time Magazine.

Scott also said he wants to lead “a team anchored in conservatism that wants to make sure that America remains the city on the hill,” Time reported.

Both Pompeo and Sununu were considered potential presidential candidates but opted not to make White House runs.

Pompeo also made visits to early-voting South Carolina, having premiere speaking slots in front of conservative audiences at the 2021 S.C. GOP Silver Elephant Gala and the 2022 Jeff Duncan Faith and Freedom BBQ.

Gowdy, who represented the Upstate 4th Congressional District, chaired the House Select Committee on the 2012 Benghazi, Libya, terrorist attack that left four Americans dead including Ambassador Christopher Stevens. Gowdy now has a Sunday night television show on Fox News.

With more than three months until the Iowa caucus, it is still early to be seriously considering potential vice presidential candidates. Vetting for a running mate normally doesn’t begin until a candidate becomes the presumptive nominee.

Scott, who entered the 2024 race with a sizable campaign war chest, has a hill to climb before becoming the nominee.

In a RealClearPolitics average of national polls, Scott is at 2.3% support, putting him tied for sixth place among Republican candidates with former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

Scott is doing better in early-voting states in polls released within the last week. A Washington Post/Monmouth University Poll had him at 10% in South Carolina, putting him in third place. A CNN poll had him at 6% in New Hampshire, putting him in sixth place. A Fox Business poll out of Iowa had him at 7% in fifth place.