The presumptive U.S. presidential nominees Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are preparing to make key announcements on who’ll be their running mates.

CCTV’s Lorna Shaddick takes a look.
Follow Lorna Shaddick on Twitter @lornashaddick

Donald Trump is used to reality shows and interviewing people – now he’s auditioning candidates for the real thing: the vice presidency.

Loyalty’s certainly what this former Trump opponent’s been noted for. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has been a faithful surrogate- though many say Christie favors Attorney General over the VP spot.

When it comes to experience, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, who served in Congress for 12 years, could fit the bill. Trump recently tweeted that he was “impressed” with Pence.

But others favor former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a Washington insider who’s become an informal Trump advisor.

But the man criticized for objectifying women could choose a woman as a running mate, to try to prove his critics wrong – Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, or Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin are among the names reportedly under consideration. If Trump is nominated, he’ll likely be facing America’s first ever female presidential nominee.

Some have speculated there could even be an all-woman Democratic ticket, if Hillary Clinton picks the senator who has fired up her fans, Elizabeth Warren.

Some argue former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, now a U.S. senator, could fit the bill, a battle-hardened strategist and fundraiser who’s won a number of elections.

“Tim Kaine is very much the safe choice for Hillary Clinton which is actually why I wouldn’t be surprised to see her go that route. I don’t think Hillary Clinton is a risk taker in general, I think she tends to go with the relatively safe options,” Jonathan Cristol of World Policy Institute said.

But others favor the youth and diversity of Housing Secretary Julian Castro or Labor Secretary Tom Perez – who could both excite Hispanic voters or Senator Sherrod Brown of swing state Ohio, who analysts said could play well to white working class voters.

Historically, presidential nominees’ choice of running mates has had little effect on the race. But given the low approval ratings of both Trump and Clinton, observers say this year could be different.