Bill O’Reilly is the latest pundit to say Susana Martinez should be Donald Trump’s vice presidential pick.
Susana Martinez screenshot from Mediaite video of The O’Reilly Factor
The influential talker said this the Thursday night edition of his Fox News show The O’Reilly Factor.
Mediate flagged the definitive endorsement by O’Reilly.
O’Reilly was speaking to Dana Perino, the former White House Press Secretary under George W. Bush.
Perino said that Trump would “probably need a conservative westerner.”
“There is only one choice” if Trump wants to win.
“Governor Susana Martinez of New Mexico,” O’Reilly said.
“That is the only choice—with all due respect—if Mr. Trump wants to be President he must give it to the governor of New Mexico.”
O’Reilly explained his reasoning.
“She cuts across all the ethnic boundaries that he’s weak in,” he said. “She’s very bright. She is a Republican conservative”
Perino said it’s “not a bad” choice, but said that the Republican Party has a deep bench.
Of course, there are several problems with this.
Martinez recently slammed Trump for his remarks about Mexicans and his rhetoric surrounding immigration. Martinez made the remarks at a donor event at a mansion owned by David Koch.
For years, Martinez has shot down rumors that she would be on a national ticket. She has said that she intends to serve out her term while continuing to care for her disabled sister.
Still, a little thing like a politician declaring they aren’t interested doesn’t stop speculation.
This U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce endorsed Martinez for a vice presidential slot.
Marco Rubio mentioned Martinez as a possible vice presidential choice. Martinez later endorsed Rubio, shortly before the U.S. Senator lost his home state of Florida by a wide margin. This loss prompted Rubio to drop out of the race.
Martinez has not endorsed any of the three remaining Republican candidates.
O’Reilly also mentioned that Dick Cheney was a conservative Westerner who was Vice President.
