Trump's new VP favorite? Republican governor now tops the list for oddsmakers after being trotted front and center at ex-president's huge New Jersey rally

Former President Donald Trump continued auditioning potential vice presidents Saturday at his massive Wildwood, New Jersey rally. 

Trump trotted out North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to give some opening remarks, with the ex-2024 rival revealing that he flew to the ocean-front site with the ex-president on board 'Trump Force One.' 

When it was Trump's turn to speak, the presumptive Republican nominee hinted that Burgum could be the one.

'So get ready for something, OK just get ready,' Trump teased. 

This shot the odds of Burgum becoming Trump's running mate to the top, according to betting site OddsChecker.com. 

The North Dakota governor now leads the list followed by Democrat-turned-Republican ex-Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and New York Rep. Elise Stefanik. 

The site is missing from the list another top contender: South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. 

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who seemingly tanked her changes of becoming Trump's pick when she admitted to shooting her dog, also isn't on the list. 

At the rally, Trump poured praised on Burgum, calling him 'outstanding.' 

'And he was one of the candidates running and it was sort of a large group and sometimes you need controversy to get yourself known and he's a very - he's not a controversial person, he's a very smart person, he's an outstanding person, who made a lot of money, ran for office, became the governor of North Dakota,' the ex-president said.  

'And the numbers there, the numbers that he's done there, the job he's done is unparallel,' Trump continued. 'And his wife is incredible. It's an incredible couple.'

'You won't find anybody better than this gentleman in terms of his knowledge - you know he made his money in technology but he probably knows more about energy than anybody I know,' the ex-president went on. 'But Doug Burgum has been incredible, the country is lucky to have him.' 

Burgum launched his longshot presidential bid in June 2023. 

The little-known politician only qualified for two of the GOP debates - which Trump refused to participate in - and came to the first one on crutches, directly after injuring his Achilles heel. 

In early December - about six weeks before the first votes in Iowa were cast - Burgum pulled the plug on his campaign, endorsing Trump on the eve of the Iowa caucuses. 

He's since appeared alongside Trump at a handful of campaign events, including when Trump easily won the Nevada caucuses, where chief rival Nikki Haley wasn't on the ballot. 

At Saturday's rally, Burgum noted how he had held his governorship under both Presidents Trump and Joe Biden. 

'Working with President Trump as a governor was like having a beautiful breeze at your back. President Trump respects states' rights, he cut regulation, he lowered taxes,' Burgum said. 'Working under the Biden regulatory regime is like having a gale-force wind in your face.'

'Because the Biden bureaucrats are treating our constitutional republic like a dictatorship,' Burgum said.