GOP CONGRESSMAN: I think Donald Trump will pick Newt Gingrich as his running mate
Virginia Rep. David Brat told Business Insider in an interview earlier this week that he thinks Donald Trump will pick former House Speaker Newt Gingrich as his running mate.
He added that Gingrich would be the best pick because of his "dynamism."
"There's a bunch of other strong candidates, but he's got a dynamism," said the Virginia Republican, who's backing Trump told BI while on a tour to promote his new book "American Underdog." "Trump's a strong figure, he needs another strong figure who can go back and forth credibly."
Brat, who pulled off one of the most improbable primary victories in US history when he unseated then-House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in 2014, said he's been in touch with Gingrich about serving as an arbiter between the presumptive Republican nominee and House Speaker Paul Ryan.
Although he stressed he didn't know whether Gingrich would get the nod, Brat said, "It'd be my guess right now."
"But I don't have any inside [information]," he added.
The Associated Press reported Friday morning that Gingrich is being vetted for the role along with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, both of whom were previously described to be on a short list of candidates for the position. An aide with the Trump campaign said that the Manhattan billionaire is now planning on unveiling his running mate ahead of the Cleveland convention later this month.
"I think I'm doing politics in the district," he said. "Stick around and just go county to county."
He added that he's "still weighing it," noting that he's "not that far" away from Northeast Ohio.
If asked to speak at the event, Brat acknowledged he would be very interested.
"Yeah, yeah," he said. "I really like that stuff."