Republican senator Tim Scott (SC) is the new favorite to be Donald Trump's VP in the betting odds, after South Dakota governor Kristi Noem's (R) scandalous confession about shooting a puppy.
The latest odds from the site PredictIt have Scott in the lead with roughly 22% chance.
Noem, long seen as a rising star on the right, has many writing her political obituary after she admitted to shooting a vicious dog in her upcoming memoir.
After Scott, the runner-up is Ohio Senator J.D. Vance (R), with a 15% chance, and then Elise Stefanik, with a 10% chance.
Noem lags far behind with a 4% chance.
Vance, a fiery pro-Trump populist, is new to Congress, while Scott is a veteran politician with strong ties to the Republican establishment.
Scott briefly challenged Trump in last year's Republican primary but has since become an outspoken supporter.
Some speculate that Scott, who is black, could help Trump peel away minority votes from Joe Biden, and Scott's supporters say he is a skilled communicator.
Trump, a former reality TV host, has treated the VP horse race almost like a gameshow, leaving the country in suspense.
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee will host Scott and other rumored VP contenders at a fundraiser in Palm Beach this weekend, which will double as an informal audition.
Trump is known to value aesthetics and loyalty, but his campaign stresses that his criteria for choosing a running mate are known only to him.
His campaign dismissed a fresh report in Bloomberg that Trump is down to Scott, Vance, Republican stalwart (and former rival) Marco Rubio, and North Dakota governor Doug Burgum.
"Anyone claiming to know who or when President Trump will choose his VP is lying, unless the person is named Donald J. Trump," Trump adviser Brian Hughes said.
A surprising report this week in Axios said Trump finds Doug Burgum's low-key demeanor appealing, a quality he shares in common with the affable Scott.
While campaigning in Wisconsin this week, Trump said he would make a choice shortly before the Republican convention in July.
“I’ll be picking, but probably not too much before the convention, which I happen to be having in the great state of Wisconsin," he said.
