South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) might be looking to get back in good graces with former President Donald Trump, saying that it would be “beneficial” to him if he chose a woman as his running mate.
The comments from Noem came while she appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, where she was asked whether or not Trump should pick a woman as his VP.
“I think that that would be beneficial, according to the polling that I’ve seen for him and a lot of swing states, is that having a woman that is helping his campaign makes a difference,” Noem said.
Noem is among those looking to earn the top spot next to Trump, though after recent headlines about her shooting her dog, many have felt she is no longer an option.
The South Dakota governor did explain the story that was featured in her latest book, saying that the dog was dangerous, but some experts have said the damage is still done.
Despite the bad press, Noem says that “all the polls tell him in the swing states that a woman on the ticket helps him win.”
“One in four Republican women haven’t made up their minds because they want to have a woman talking to them about the issues they care about. And women aren’t monolithic. They don’t care about just one issue,” she said.
Noem went on to say that there are several issues women care about that a woman running mate would be able to address.
“They care about health care; they care about their children; they care about their futures. They care about having an opportunity to have a business and to have a career. And all of that is being threatened [by] Joe Biden, but yes, the women’s vote is extremely important,” she said.
Among those being considered by Trump and to have received vetting materials include Reps. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) and Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R), and Ben Carson, multiple media outlets confirmed.
Noem did not share whether or not she had received the same materials or if she was still being considered for the position.
“I told President Trump over and over again: He needs to pick whoever helps him win. I have been loyal to him since the very beginning when he first started to run in 2016,” she said. “He told me his priority is picking a running mate that can govern on day one, that has been loyal to him, that has experience and run businesses, knows how to be a CEO but also supports him in his policies. I don’t care. I love my job in South Dakota. I care about the fact that I want him to win, and he knows that I will do that.”