Ernst for vice president? Analyst puts her on short list for Trump

Donald Trump's victories in a series of Northeastern and mid-Atlantic states over the past two weeks have made one thing clear: He is the clear favorite for the Republican presidential nomination.

Who is he going to pick as his vice presidential nominee?

Trump has been open about the lack of thought he has put into the process. 'I just don't want to think about it right now,” he said of the veepstakes following his five-state sweep Tuesday.

That's never stopped me before, though - and it won't stop me now!

Below the five people most likely to wind up as Trump's second-in-command.

Caveat: These rankings can and will change.

5. Marco Rubio:

Yes, there was that whole 'Little Marco” thing. But Rubio could help Trump with outreach to establishment Republicans and in Florida. As a Cuban-American, he also might be able to blunt some of Trump's sharpest edges on immigration and avoid an electoral disaster in the Hispanic community.

4. John Kasich

: The Ohio governor would represent an olive branch - of sorts - from Trump to the establishment and might carry the sort of resume (member of Congress, Midwestern governor) that would appeal to Trump.

3. Joni Ernst:

The Iowa Republican senator emerged as a breakout star of the 2014 midterm election with her plain-spoken populism.

Ernst, like many Republican female politicians, has been critical of Trump's comments about women, which either could appeal to him or disqualify Ernst.

If Trump wanted to make a turning-over-a-new-leaf pick, Ernst would make a ton of sense. If Trump believes 'being Trump” is the essence of his appeal, he might look askance at anyone who has crossed him.

Ernst has proved she is a gifted communicator and someone who might help Trump sell to the Midwestern voter he badly needs if he wants to be competitive with Hillary Clinton.

2. Rick Scott:

The Florida governor has been consistently supportive of Trump for months now and endorsed him as soon as the real estate billionaire won the Sunshine State in March. Plus, he's from a big swing state.

1. Chris Christie:

No one has risked more with his support for Trump than Christie, who has been mocked and dismissed by the GOP establishment for his endorsement of Trump. In terms of personality, Christie and Trump seem to be an obvious match. From a geographic/ideological standpoint, Christie doesn't add to the Trump ticket. But who knows if Trump even cares?