In the race to determine who will be Donald Trump's running mate for the 2024 Republican Party ticket, the former president's campaign has entered the next phase of vetting potential candidates. Among those being considered is Florida Senator Marco Rubio, a familiar face who has become a staunch ally of Trump.

Rubio, who ran against Trump in the 2016 Republican presidential primaries, has since emerged as one of the strongest voices in the Senate for Trump's America First agenda. Political insiders believe that Rubio's addition to the ticket could be a game-changer, especially with his ability to effectively criticize President Biden's policies.

Notably, Rubio's appeal to Latino voters could further strengthen Trump's support among this demographic. Being fluent in Spanish, Rubio could help the Trump campaign connect with Hispanic voters in key states like Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Virginia, New York, and Florida.

Matt Wolking, a GOP strategist who served in Trump's 2020 presidential campaign, praised Rubio as an effective communicator and a disciplined candidate who rarely makes mistakes. Wolking also highlighted Rubio's experience as a leader on the Senate Intelligence Committee, which could be valuable in reining in "rogue agencies." Moreover, Rubio's popularity among suburban and independent voters could be crucial to Trump's success.

However, there are some concerns within Trump's campaign regarding Rubio's past criticism of the former president. Rubio has been vocal about his disagreements with Trump in the past, even calling him "reckless and dangerous" during the 2016 presidential race. Additionally, Rubio suggested that Trump bore some responsibility for the January 6 protests at the U.S. Capitol.

Despite these concerns, the downsides to Rubio's potential selection are seen as minor by Wolking, who believes that Rubio's hawkish foreign policy stance and the constitutional prohibition on electors from the same state voting for president and vice president would only pose minor obstacles.

Supporters of Rubio point to his positive performance in states like Virginia and Minnesota during his 2016 primary campaign as evidence that he could help Trump in potential target states for Republicans. They also emphasize Rubio's legislative track record, debate skills, and ability to energize crowds as reasons why he would be a strong addition to the Republican ticket.

While other big names have also been floated as potential running mates for Trump, including Elise Stefanik, Sarah Sanders, Glenn Youngkin, Doug Burgum, Kristi Noem, JD Vance, and Tim Scott, Trump has indicated that he will likely announce his pick at the Republican National Convention in July.

As the campaign intensifies, the selection of Marco Rubio as Donald Trump's running mate would undoubtedly shake up the political landscape, with the potential to sway crucial voters in key states and bolster Trump's chances for success in the 2024 election.