Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, their nominations almost sealed, are now weighing the selection of a vice-presidential candidate. Names are already circulating, although it’s too early to separate the true contenders from the decoys. Clinton has delighted feminists by hinting she’s open to a two-woman ticket, even if the three women mentioned most ofen—Senators Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts—all come from states Clinton needs no local help to win, while a fourth prospect, Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio, who happens to be a man, could deliver crucial votes in a “battleground” state.
Trump’s calculations are more arcane. He has never held elected office; a policy-steeped big name would help, but “establishment” Republicans, including his defeated rivals, are emphatically uninterested. “Hahahahahahahahaha,” an aide to Jeb Bush emailed the New York Times when asked if Bush might consider a place on Trump’s undercard. Two other seasoned Republicans, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, are available, but both are damaged goods and self-infatuated blusterers. And the ticket has one of those already.