Conservative grassroots activists want JD Vance as Trump's VP pick: Straw poll shows Ohio senator as the runaway leader ahead of Rubio, Burgum and Scott among Turning Point Action attendees

Sen. J.D. Vance cemented his status as frontrunner to become Donald Trump's running mate on Sunday, coming top in a poll of attendees at Turning Point Action's People's Congress in Detroit.

Trump's pick is the subject of feverish speculation and the grassroots had its say with a poll run over the three day gathering of activists. 

When 1,983 people at the Detroit event were asked who they favored out of Vance, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Sens. Marco Rubio and Tim Scott, some 43 percent said they favored senator from Ohio.

Scott was a distant second on 15.4 percent, Rubio took third with 7.7 percent, and Burgum, who in particular has been talked up by Trump in recent weeks, took seven percent.

The poll was conducted by Big Data Poll for Turning Point Action, the grassroots movement headed by Charlie Kirk.

Insiders say Trump has narrowed his choice down to those four, although he is notorious for changing his mind or throwing in curve balls to keep people guessing.

Vance has become one of Trump's most visible cheerleaders since being elected to the Senate and can count on his friendship with the former president's eldest son, Don Jr,, to help his case.

He rose to prominence with his 2016 memoir 'Hillbilly Elegy.' Its story of living with poverty and observations of addiction in Appalachia became a 'Rosetta Stone' for understanding life in forgotten parts of America and the corresponding popularity of Trump.

However, he was an outspoken critic of Trump before becoming one of his closest allies, endorsing the former president early in the 2024 nominating race. 

Vance closed Turning Point Action's gathering in Detroit on Sunday afternoon. He was asked by an audience member what a vice president should do to drive forward Trump's agenda.

Loyalty, he answered, without being drawn on his own chances. 

'There are a lot of smart good people that Trump is looking at, but it also applies to our senators. It applies to our congressmen and women too,' he said.

'We need to have people who are supporting Trump not trying to stab him in the back. It's very very simple.'

Last time around, Trump picked Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as a figure who could help win over evangelical Christians who were wary of voting for a thrice-married, trash talking businessman from New York.

This time, however, Trump has let it be known that he believes voters will only look at the top of the ticket, freeing him up to pick a loyalist who will defend him in a crisis. 

Turning Point has emerged as a major force in the MAGA movement and has become increasingly influential in GOP politics under Trump. The former president will want to select a running mate who is popular with his base.

For his part, Kirk has made no secret that he believes Vance would be the best pick. 

'He is young,' he told DailyMail.com before the results were released. 'He has an amazing family and is the only veteran that is being considered of the finalists. 

'But most importantly, he's a incredibly popular, successful politician from the region of the world where Donald Trump needs to win, which is the Rust Belt.'

There could still be surprises ahead.

On Saturday afternoon, Trump was introduced by Florida Rep. Byron Donalds at a Black church in a marginalized corner of Detroit. 

'He is on the list by the way and I don't know if he's gonna make it but he's, ... he's on a list of a few people right?' Trump told the crowd.