(NewsNation) — NewsNation has learned North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum will be one of the key Trump campaign surrogates attending this week’s presidential debate.
Burgum’s presence could be a clue to solving one major mystery around the Trump campaign: The former president says he has now made his up mind on a choice of running mate and that person will be at the debate Thursday night in Atlanta.
Trump announced to reporters Saturday his pick will be at the debate but also that he hasn’t informed his choice of the decision.
Burgum will be attending the debate, a campaign source and a source close to the campaign told NewsNation. At least one other top VP contender, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, is scheduled to attend the debate, the source close to the campaign said.
Trump has now narrowed his potential running mate list to Burgum, Ohio Senator JD Vance and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, two sources close to the campaign confirmed to NewsNation.
Spokespersons for Vance and Rubio did not return messages seeking comment about their plans for the debate.
As is the case often in matters involving Trump, nothing is set in stone until an announcement is made, the sources warn, meaning other names could emerge as front-runners, or some of these contenders could fade in the presumptive nominee’s favorability.
Trump has repeatedly said he will wait until the Republican National Convention, which kicks off July 15, to announce his choice.
Several sources with knowledge of his thinking say Trump is especially fond of Burgum, who has spent a lot of time with the presumptive nominee in the last several weeks. Burgum has impressed the campaign, sources with knowledge of the matter say, partly by his numerous appearances as a surrogate on cable news in the last several weeks attacking President Joe Biden.
Each of the three current front-runners have supporters in Trump’s circle, both those close with him and his political advisers, one of the sources says.
Several weeks ago it emerged at least 7 people — including the current three leading candidates — were asked to submit personal information to allow the campaign to vet them, sources previously said. Among those other names were Scott, Reps. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., Byron Donalds, R-Fla., and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson.
Regarding questions regarding the VP pick, Trump’s campaign would only say the top criteria is who will be a “strong leader” and that Trump is the only person who knows who he will pick as his running mate.