Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s campaign is considering former House speaker Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in a shortlist of possible candidates for vice president, according to media reports.

Gingrich and Christie, the leading contenders, received vetting papers in the last 24 hours, the Associated Press reported Thursday. It said their inclusion was confirmed by people with direct knowledge of the process who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the issue publicly.

There are more than six other possibilities to run alongside Trump, according to the Washington Post. The newspaper said the details came from five people with knowledge of the process who requested anonymity.

On Thursday, Trump acknowledged that Christie was being considered. “I’m certainly looking at him and I always will. Whether it’s for that or something else,” he told conservative radio host Howie Carr.

Gingrich and his campaign spokeswoman declined to comment and Christie’s office did not respond to an inquiry, the Washington Post reported.

SOURCE: Jane Onyanga-Omara 
USA TODAY