washington former house speaker newt gingrich new jersey governor chris christie top donald trump short list vice presidential run mate source say candidate cast wide net also include several u.s. senators governors less three weeks go formal nomination republican national convention party candidate nov. election trump search intensify wealthy businessman political neophyte say want political veteran help navigate power corridors washington.gingrich christie loyal trump time many republican colleagues want nothing would meet requirement experience would come minuses well pluses name watch include u.s. senators bob corker tennessee joni ernst iowa jeff sessions alabama governors mike pence indiana mary fallin oklahoma republicans close campaign say week trump set meet pence weekend spokesman governor say friday new yorker also meet corker fallin mr trump meet number republican leaders run-up convention cleveland good relationship gov pence trump spokesman jason miller say email response question reuters experience run mate also could help fundraise hillary clinton presumptive democratic nominee raise 40 million campaign june 28 million party trump largely self-funded primary run yet release june fundraise number trump expect name run mate close july 18-21 convention gingrich speaker house representatives 1990s run president 2012 popular conservative writer speaker important behind-the-scenes voice urge trump adopt presidential demeanor trump 70 gingrich 73 could face difficulty appeal young generation christie quickly endorse trump quit race early year source say 53-year-old governor emerge key adviser trump campaign team source say christie instrumental coax trump less confrontational mexican-american federal judge oversee fraud case involve trump one clue christie rise importance come early week campaign supporters hold conference call discuss strategy talk point media appearances source say call christie name raise someone might comment former president bill clinton meet early week attorney general loretta lynch former federal prosecutor christie would credible voice monday night private meet clinton lynch top u.s. law enforcement officer criticize hillary clinton federal investigation use private email server democratic president barack obama secretary state source say campaign associate make clear christie use purpose save general election source say want overexpose him still many republicans wait see whether christie name unindicted co-conspirator 2014 case involve charge lanes george washington bridge close new jersey political reason corker 63 offer trump deep foreign policy experience chairman senate foreign relations committee like trump believe republican party need shake stock may go however hesitate criticize candidate time ernst first-term senator military veteran could help improve trump stand women tacitly support rival marco rubio republican nominate campaign though promise support party nominee ernst turn 46 friday say early month trump campaign contact go oklahoma fallin among several republican governors meet jointly trump june honor mention office vice president conversation mr. trump vice presidency fallin 61 say statement republicans could consider even recent contact campaign alice stewart former spokeswoman u.s. senator ted cruz presidential campaign say texan run mate carly fiorina tell late vet might pick trump vet conduct washington lawyer a.b culvahouse longtime fixture national republican politics gingrich christie lead trump list vice presidential options