GOP LAWMAKERS ON S.D. GOV: WOOF South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem may be a former House Republican – but some lawmakers in the chamber believe her chances of becoming Donald Trump’s running mate are as dead as her late dog Cricket. Noem still has many friends in the GOP conference from her two terms in the chamber, but the dog-killing anecdote she retold in her upcoming book isn’t the only reason some fellow Republicans are scratching their heads in confusion and wondering about self-sabotage. There’s also her recent foray into influencer territory, with a recent promotional video on behalf of a Texas dental practice she visited sparking a proposed inquiry into Noem. But the 52-year-old's decision to write proudly in her memoir about throwing Cricket into a pit and shooting the canine dead is hitting hardest with GOP lawmakers who bluntly predict it will haunt her on the national political stage. Asked if the grisly anecdote hurt Noem’s chances of joining the former president’s ticket this fall, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) replied: “It does for me.” “The worst part of it is that it wasn't a hit job. She volunteered the information. So, when somebody tells you who they are, believe them,” added Malliotakis, a Trump supporter who is known for carrying her puppy Luna around the Capitol. Another Trump backer, Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.), said that in his hometown of Miami, “I can tell you that people go bananas for dogs. … So could that affect her chances? Yes,” he said, before adding that “she’s going to get some pushback on this.” Noem defended herself as criticism flared from members of both parties and animal experts, arguing that she shared the story of killing her dog to show she can make tough choices. According to Noem, Cricket was unable to hunt and bit livestock – even biting her hand when she tried to pull it away from a chicken. South Dakota law permits the killing of a dog when it is disturbing livestock and liable for any damages to poultry or animal. But the story ran away from her and became something of a national punchline. One meme passed around Washington this week featured a grisly version of the famous children’s book “Clifford,” retitled as “The Big Dead Dog,” with Noem listed as the author. “It's a story that doesn't go away,” said Rep. Kelly Armstrong, who represents the neighboring state of North Dakota. “And it's not a good story.” That Noem was “caught going to Texas to get [her] teeth done, like, it seems off. But it's good for my governor,” Armstrong added, referring to his state’s departing governor Doug Burgum, who is also reportedly in the mix as a potential Trump running mate. One conservative House Republican, granted anonymity to talk candidly about Noem, delivered the ultimate brush-off to her dog murder. “I don't think she was ever a serious [running mate] contender. I just don't,” this lawmaker said, adding that the dog story would still rule her out because it’s “too much of a distraction.” A few Republicans downplayed the entire episode as not newsworthy. “I don’t see what the big deal is,” said Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.). “There are some people in the country who do believe that when a dog bites or dog kills, that's what you do. I've heard of it before.” Rep. Dusty Johnson, a fellow South Dakotan, argued that “life is a little different in rural America.” Noem “handled that with as much humanity for the animal as was needed,” Johnson said. “I'm surprised people are paying so much attention to that.” Another home-state colleague of Noem’s, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), told reporters that “there's only one person right now that's making that decision” about whether her canine encounter would disqualify her as a running mate. “And that'll be up to” Trump, added Rounds, “as to whether or not … he considers it that way or not.” One House Republican who’s said to be under consideration as a Trump running mate, Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), did not care to add to the dog discussion. – Olivia Beavers, with an assist from Ursula Perano
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