Northwest suburban Republicans think Trump will tap Scott for VP

In a straw poll taken among roughly 250 Northwest suburban Republicans Monday night, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina emerged as the perceived choice former President Donald Trump will make for his running mate with 63 votes in the poll.

Attendees at the Northwest Suburban Republican Lincoln Day Dinner were asked to guess who they believe Trump will pick to be his vice president if elected in November, said Schaumburg Township Republican Committeeman Joe Folisi.

U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio and Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders finished second and third, with 47 and 30 votes respectively.

The other names were U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake of Arizona, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

Folisi said the names were culled by a committee from a list of those seen as popular.

There was also a spot for “other.”

Hanover Township Republican Committeeman Mike Baumer said that while Scott garnered only about 60 votes, he was the overwhelming selection among voters.

“I think people like him,” Folisi said of Scott. “He’s good. He seems to work well with Trump. They are all good candidates.”

Folisi said Sanders was on the list “because she was kind of a dark horse. She is a very good governor and she worked with him before (as press secretary).”

Although more than 500 people attended the event, not everyone voted.

Baumer said guests at the event held at the Cotillion Banquets in Palatine included current Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy and the Dean White, who is taking over as Illinois Republican National Committeeman.