Below are my picks of the five people most likely to wind up sharing a ticket with Trump. These rankings are based on conversations with Republicans, a study of Trump's public comments about the various people in the VP mix and plain old intuition.

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Enjoy!

5. Joni Ernst

The senator from Iowa has a very bright political future ahead of her. Ernst emerged as a surprising star of the 2014 Senate class with a sterling resume (military background, time spent in state legislature, etc.) and a gift for communicating. She's well-liked by many in the party and is seen as a fresh face -- factors that should appeal to Trump. The question is whether Ernst wants to hitch her wagon -- and her political future -- to The Donald.

4. Bob Corker

The senator from Tennessee huddled with Trump this week in New York, a meeting that launched 1,000 stories about whether he was the pick. And Corker seems to be courting such speculation; his statement praising Trump in the immediate aftermath of the nominee's foreign policy speech a few weeks back was very noticeable and not by accident.

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Corker is well-respected in both parties in Washington as the rare politician who actually wants to get things done and who understands the sacrifices necessary to make that happen. Of the five people on this list, Corker would be the one who would make the GOP establishment happiest. But that might also be the reason, of course, that Trump won't do it.

3. Chris Christie

The New Jersey governor has sacrificed much to make this list. His decision to endorse Trump at a time when the establishment of the party was still very focused on beating the real estate mogul turned Christie into persona non grata with lots of his old friends. But, it also means that Christie has been by Trump's side for longer than any other elected official. And his tough-guy personality and ability to win in a traditionally blue state likely appeal to Trump. Bridgegate continues to linger, and Christie's numbers back home are atrocious, but does Trump really care?

2. Mary Fallin

The Oklahoma governor isn't well-known nationally but has the right sort of profile -- conservative woman with executive experience -- that Trump needs. She also spent some time in Congress, which should appeal to Trump who has said he wants someone who knows how Washington works. Trump made waves last month when he tweeted that former South Carolina lieutenant governor Andre Bauer's (R) recommendation that he pick Fallin as vice president was "great advice."

1. Newt Gingrich

Gingrich checks many of the boxes that Trump has said he is looking for in a vice president: someone who knows Washington, understands policy and gets how Congress works. Plus, Gingrich was a relatively early supporter of Trump and has grown increasingly close to the real estate mogul, as detailed by National Review's Eliana Johnson. (Conservative news sites seem to love the idea too.)