"Corker’s a great guy. He actually has something in common with Donald, because they’ve both been very successful businessmen in real estate," Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said of Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.). | AP Photo Newt: 'Very stable' Corker would balance Trump ticket

In terms of who Donald Trump should select as his running mate, Newt Gingrich sees upsides in quite a few contenders.

The former speaker of the House participated in a live Facebook video chat with the Canadian American Business Council on Friday, chatting about a variety of subjects related to international cooperation with respect to the United States' neighbor to the north. But he didn't get away without being quizzed on the veepstakes.


Gingrich referred to a USA Today "power ranking" on Thursday that listed him as the No. 2 candidate chosen by a list of political observers as "flattering." But he was quick to add, "The only power ranking that matters is in Donald Trump’s mind."

The top name on the list: Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), who met with Trump on Monday and summarily dismissed any talk that the Manhattan encounter had anything to do with being the presumptive nominee's running mate.

"Corker’s a great guy. He actually has something in common with Donald, because they’ve both been very successful businessmen in real estate," Gingrich said, noting that he was the mayor of Chattanooga before becoming a senator and chairing the Foreign Relations Committee.

He added, "very stable guy, in some ways would balance Trump."

As far as the No. 3 name on the list, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Gingrich deemed her "fabulous."

"She’s only a freshman, but she’s served in the American army, she’s been in Afghanistan and Iraq," he continued. "She has a great presence, she’s a very successful farmer in Iowa, and I think she would add a real energy and a real diversity to the ticket in ways that would be very exciting.”