Former Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson inadvertently exposed who may be on Donald Trump's list of possible running mates during Sunday's interview with The Washington Post. But those same politicians identified deflected the matter since the story surfaced.
Following Carson's exit from the campaign in March, he endorsed Trump, quickly becoming a trusted advisor. His first big task was to lead the search for a vice presidential pick. By May 12, Carson's role on this V.P. Committee had ended, according to Carson's campaign manager Armstrong Williams, who told the Independent Journal that Carson did submit a list of potential nominees to Trump.
After a Post reporter told Carson a new Morning Consult poll found he was the most favorably regarded among a lengthy list of potential vice presidential options, Carson asked who else was on the polling list. The reporter named John Kasich, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Sarah Palin and Chris Christie as other possible vice-presidential picks.
"Those are all people on our list," the retired neurosurgeon responded. His wife, Candy Carson, then cut in and said, "Well, not you," implying that Carson was not being considered, according to Yahoo Finance.
Carson attempted to clarify his comments after the story published, telling The Post he would "say yes to everybody" as a potential Trump running mate.
"When it comes to who could be the vice president and you name a list of people, I'm going to say yes to everybody," he said. "Everybody could potentially be considered - doesn't mean they are on the short list."
Trump told the Associated Press his short list for a running mate was down to five or six contenders, and he acknowledged Christie was on that list. Christie later responded that being on a short list "doesn't mean a whole heck of a lot."
Palin was asked about the possibility by CNN's Jake Tapper last week. She said she didn't know whether being Trump's running mate would help the presumptive GOP nominee.
"I want to help and not hurt, and I am such a realist that I realize there are a whole lot of people out there who would say, 'Anybody but Palin,'" she said. "I wouldn't want to be a burden on the ticket, and I realize in many, many eyes, I would be that burden."
Kasich shot down the idea, saying there was "zero chance" he would be Trump's running mate, while Rubio told CNN that the real-estate mogul would be better served by someone who agreed with him "on his issues."
Cruz hasn't warmed up publicly to Trump since dropping out of the presidential race after a big loss in the Indiana primary earlier on May 3.
"We may face some challenging days ahead," Cruz said during a speech at the Texas GOP Convention in Dallas on Saturday afternoon. "But I am convinced [the conservative] movement - the men and women gathered here - will be the remnant, will be the core of pulling this country back from the abyss."
