Larry Elder, a Republican presidential candidate, stated that he would listen attentively if former President Donald Trump or Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis asked him to be their running mate.
Elder made the remarks in an interview with Newsweek that was published on Monday, according to a report by The Western Journal.
The candidate stated that he is running for president to win, but he would not rule out adding his name to the ballot of another candidate: “I am running for president, I’m not running for vice president, I’m not running for a cabinet position,” Elder said.
He added, “However in the unlikely event I’m not the party nominee, and if Trump or DeSantis or one of the other persons call and ask me to be vice president, I will take the call. I won’t let it go to voicemail.”
Elder stated that he is a "big fan" of Trump, but he also told Newsweek that he does not believe the 45th president can win over voters in swing states.
“Here’s the problem; I believe there are so many swing voters in swing states who would not vote for the man if he walked on water,” Elder told Newsweek.
He added, ”In fact, they would accuse him of not being able to swim. I have no idea what to do about Trump derangement syndrome — maybe someday somebody will develop a vaccine.”
Elder stated that he is a "big fan" of Trump, but he also told Newsweek that he does not believe the 45th president can win over voters in swing states.
“I think at some point in this long process Republican voters are doing to realize in order to win in November 2024 they’re going to have to unite behind a candidate whose last name is [something] other than Trump, but for whom a sufficient number of swing voters and swing states will vote, so we can win in November 2024, and I’m making the case that I’m that person,” Elder said.
Elder further stated that President Joe Biden is experiencing "an obvious cognitive decline" and that the 80-year-old "clearly has lost it."
Elder ran unsuccessfully for governor of California in 2021, when Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom was facing a recall election. The conservative radio presenter ran an uncompetitive campaign, and the state's electorate chose to re-elect Newsom.
Elder declared that he was running for president in April: “America is in decline, but this decline is not inevitable. We can enter a new American Golden Age, but we must choose a leader who can bring us there. That’s why I’m running for President,” he wrote on Twitter.
Elder's campaign announcement has failed to resonate with potential primary voters. A Morning Consult poll released last week indicated that 57 percent of potential primary voters supported Trump, while 19 percent supported DeSantis.
Elder was not mentioned in the questionnaire, which showed zero percent for three other candidates.
