Trump's running mate selection process is being affected by Biden's post-debate troubles: report

Former President Donald Trump's running mate selection process has been and is being impacted by President Joe Biden's post-debate troubles. 

This is according to a recently published report by the New York Times, titled, How Biden's Struggles Are Factoring Into Trump's V.P Selection. 

According to the outlet, it is not just affecting Trump's decision-making process regarding whom to pick, but it is also affecting Trump's decision about when to make the announcement.

Previously, Trump had indicated that he plans to announce his pick at the upcoming Republican National Convention, when Trump will go from being the Republican Party's presumptive presidential nominee to its actual nominee.

The latest

According to the Times, which cites anonymous sources close to Trump for its report, Trump has been reluctant to choose his running mate because he does not want to take attention away from Biden.

Per the outlet:

Mr. Trump’s reluctance to name a running mate has, in recent days, been partly to avoid shifting the focus away from the president during a stretch when Mr. Biden is facing calls from within the liberal establishment and Democratic Party to step aside.

Biden, of course, if facing calls to step aside because of his poor performance at the first presidential debate. The White House is trying to claim that Biden simply had an off night, but other Democrats believe that Biden ought to be replaced because he is no longer a viable candidate. It remains to be seen on the situation is going to play out.

But, according to the Times' report, Trump and his people have made the decision to essentially keep quiet, in order to allow the country to continue focusing on Biden's difficulties.

So, it appears that the big announcement, regarding whom Trump is going to choose as his running mate, might get delayed.

There's more

As mentioned earlier, the Biden situation is also having an impact on whom Trump might choose as his running mate.

The Times, for example, reports:

Some people close to the former president said privately they now want him to give more consideration to a young contender or to a person of color, a move that could counter the possibility that someone like Kamala Harris, the first woman and first woman of color to serve as vice president, could replace Mr. Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket.

The Times goes on to suggest that this may move such candidates as U.S. Sens. J.D. Vance (R-OH) or Marco Rubio (R-FL) to the top of Trump's running mate shortlist.

According to the Times, though, others close to Trump are urging the former president to go with someone such as North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R), considering his "executive experience from two terms in that office and a long career as a business executive."

"Either way," the Times reports, "the countdown to Mr. Trump’s announcement has begun."