How 'little' Marco Rubio's billionaire friend could sweeten the deal for Trump as he weighs the Florida Republican for VP

Donald Trump could propulsion successful a large boost for his run fundraising if he decides to formed speech past grievances and pat 'little Marco' Rubio arsenic his vice statesmanlike moving mate.

Billionaire Ken Griffin is simply a longtime Rubio backer, and has indicated he mightiness jump disconnected nan sidelines if Trump, who he has slammed successful nan past, chose nan Florida legislator arsenic his moving mate.

'If Sen. Rubio is nan prime location are plentifulness of donors I'm judge will travel on – including Ken Griffin, allegedly,' Trump advisor Corey Lewandowski told DailyMail.com.

'I don't cognize if that's true. But that's what they say. If Marco's connected nan ticket, possibly Ken comes disconnected nan sidelines,' he said.

Griffin is 1 of nan astir successful hedge funders ever, and his Citadel Capital is packed pinch holdings of 'Magnificent Seven' stocks for illustration \Nvidia and Amazon, putting his nett worthy northbound astatine $37 billion.

Back successful 2022, Griffin called for nan statement to 'move on' from Trump, a 'three-time loser.'

In May he linked his imaginable support for Trump to his moving mate selection. 'I'm going to hold to spot who he picks arsenic his VP candidate,' he told Bloomberg.

But he hasn't ruled retired getting down him, arsenic nan Trump campy makes outreach to erstwhile South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and tries to unify nan statement following President Joe Biden's statement stumble. Griffin besides appeared astatine a fundraiser pinch Sen. Tim Scott, different VP contender.

A root told DailyMail.com that 'nothing has changed since Ken past made nationalist comments connected this successful mid-May' – an denotation he isn't going to springiness up his leverage.

Rubio and his wife Jeanette Christina Dousdebes Rubio were group to be Trump's rally successful Doral, Florida Tuesday, successful nan latest motion of their bond. 

The billionaire's blessing is conscionable 1 logic Trump mightiness see naming Rubio, a telegenic lawmaker who knows nan Sunday talk show circuit and is steeped successful overseas argumentation issues that could beryllium flashpoints successful a vice statesmanlike statement against Kamala Harris.

Rubio raised $52 cardinal for his grounded 2016 run, but extracurricular groups kicked successful different $220 billion, according to nan Center for Responsive Politics. 

Rubio, 53, is decades younger than Trump, 78, and could reassure parts of nan constitution done his support of Ukraine and much accepted views connected U.S. alliances.

Rubio memorably went connected nan onslaught against Trump successful 2016, calling him a 'con man' and trying to get nether his tegument by mocking nan size of his hands, successful a spot of pushback for Trump's 'little Marco' monicker.

He mockingly said Trump had a 'spray tan' and would 'make American orange,' past asked, 'Have you seen nan size of his hands?'

But Rubio has go a loyal protagonist successful nan Senate, moreover while chap constitution republicans for illustration Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) person condemned him.

He has much acquisition than South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, and different contenders erstwhile it comes to doing governmental conflict connected nan airwaves.

His apical title includes Burgum, whose ain estimated $100 cardinal wealthiness allows him to trim a cheque to nan campaing and gives him entree to nan philanthropist class, and Sen. J.D. Vance, who has been demonstrating his fundraising chops connected nan trail.

Vance is backed by megadonor Peter Thiel.  

As nan remains connected nan short database pinch conscionable days to spell earlier nan commencement of nan GOP convention, Rubio's main liability remains a ineligible one. Like Trump, he resides successful nan authorities of Florida, and a proviso of nan 12th Amendment prevents nan president and nan vice president from domiciled successful nan aforesaid state. That could put Florida's electors astatine risk. The overseas connection states that 1 of nan candidates 'shall not beryllium an inhabitant of nan aforesaid authorities pinch themselves.'

'I don't person a definitive answer. My conjecture is if Sen. Rubio is picked and decides to proceed to beryllium a resident of Florida, past immoderate ineligible clever clever has already vetted this,' said Lewandowski. But he does cognize which Florida resident won't beryllium moving if nan problem persists.

'I don't deliberation Trump moves for anybody. So if somebody's going to beryllium moving, it's not nan president,' he said.

Party leaders solved a akin problem successful 2000 erstwhile George W. Bush put Dick Cheney connected nan ticket, by designating Cheney a Wyoming resident.

But Rubio, 53, mightiness beryllium capable to beryllium tight.

'If I were advising Rubio, I would show him not to alteration his residency until aft nan election,' Bob Jarvis, a law rule professor astatine Nova Southeastern University, told NBC Miami.