GOP presidential hopeful Larry Elder said if either former President Donald Trump or Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis asked him to be their running mate, he would absolutely hear what they have to say.
Elder made the comments to Newsweek for an interview that was published on Monday.
The candidate said he is running for president to win, but he also said would not rule out adding his name to another person’s ticket.
“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 said he is personally a “big fan” of Trump, but he also told Newsweek he does not believe the country’s 45th president is capable of winning over battleground state voters.
“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.”
In spite of his personal opinion of Trump, Elder said it is time for the Republican Party to move on from him.
“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 also said President Joe Biden is in the throes of “an obvious cognitive decline” and that the 80-year-old has “clearly has lost it.”
Elder mounted what ultimately became an unsuccessful bid for governor in California in 2021 when Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom faced a recall vote.
The conservative radio host’s campaign was not competitive, and the state’s voters chose to keep Newsom in office.
Elder announced his campaign 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.
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.#WeveGotACountryToSave https://t.co/jOqOBPpre2 pic.twitter.com/MTyibgbKyK
— Larry Elder (@larryelder) April 21, 2023
Since he announced his candidacy, Elder has failed to resonate with potential primary voters.
A Morning Consult poll released last week showed Trump with the support of 57 percent of potential primary voters and DeSantis in second place with 19 percent support.
Elder was not mentioned in the poll, which showed three other candidates polling at zero percent.
LARRY ELDER WOULD BE A GREAT VP, FOR ALL OF AMERICA. HE IS TRIED AND PROVEN, OVER THE MANY YEARS, OF SHOWING HIS PATRIOTISM. I WOULD BE PROUD TO HAVE HIM AS OUR VP.
Elder is a delusional man. First he says he’s for Trump then he says he’s against him…a contradiction. He’s controlled by the left, like all RINO’s. He can’t and wouldn’t win.
He would be a great fit!
Seems DESPERATE to me. DeSantis – Trump – Elder – Haley – Scott – etc all have different campaigns, strategies, policies, plans IF elected etc etc. Elder saying “Hey I’m going to run for POTUS is a joke; but then worse is to say more or less I’ll Align My Morals, Values and Goals with ANYONE, as long as someone calls me to be VP…..pathetic cry for a title. He should clearly state who his viewpoints and integrity MOST aligns with and then sit back quietly and see if they call him instead of basically flagging them ALL down and say “I’m willing to take votes AWAY from you as I’m running against you” – – but hey should I not win (no chance in hell he’d win the nomination) so “Yeah I’ll stand beside whomever does win and be their VP”……Major ICK factor to me. I’ve reviewed his work history, education, Talk Show, etc and he just don’t have ANY experience in Foreign Policy, being the TOUGH figure we need to stand toe to toe with Satan & the Devil’s spawn in the Swamp; he has even LESS education & experience than DeSantis (Ron has minimal – he’s a young grifter w/a massive EGO issue). I think the VP should be 75-80% aligned with the TOP candidate….like Pence, but we saw how effective Pence was (more so than Kamala Harris) – – Elder would be just like Kamala – great example = unable to do ANYTHING on their own and would require Trump telling him what to do and then I still don’t think he has the stern mannerism – personna that is much needed at this time to implode the swamp and drag out the antique rats and then go against ADA laws and remove the Feinstein & Fettermans that are but merely puppets & chair warmers. Nancy Pelosi’s daughter is running Dianne Feinsteins’ office – isn’t that frightening.