Trump needs to radically shift the ground to win this election, and Pence may be first to go.

President Donald Trump is planning something. He recently announced the grandeur of the White House Lawn as the venue of his acceptance of the nomination speech, with "a big group of people," and he had angled for Gettysburg Battlefield before settling. Trump also knows he is behind: very behind, and he needs to radically shift the ground the election is taking place on

Mike Pence no longer adds much to Trump's ticket. In 2016 he served a purpose: he helped Trump build evangelicals into his electoral coalition by making the ticket with the brash and morally questionable candidate look a little less menacing.

But now? Pence is a vestige of a campaign from 2016, one that is being left behind behind, and is in no solid spot for re-election.

With Aug. 24-27 and the Republican National Convention only 10 days away, it's his chance to radically shift the ground less than 90 days out from the election: Dump Pence.

Trump Speaks Quietly With Vice President Mike Pence

A powerful venue, a large crowd, and a cognisant need to do something big to energise his campaign. Pence, possibly the least energetic or relevant politician involved in the race, could easily be replaced.

This is especially likely considering a former White House official who was close to Trump said “He would throw Mike Pence in a wood chipper if he needed to... I’m still very surprised that he’s on the ticket. If someone walks in there and tells him, ‘The only way you’re going to pull this out is to put an African American on the ticket or to put a woman on the ticket’ — if it’s good for Trump, he’ll do it in a second.”

Trump fears nothing more than being a "loser" and wants to avoid something like that as much as possible, and he may be willing to cross party lines in his replacement of Pence to ensure his ultimate success, as now more than ever he needs to appeal to moderates who see his campaign as unrefreshing, partisan, and failed.

Trump and Tulsi Share the Screen

It's undoubted he's courting a myriad of potential replacements in the shadows, regardless of how convinced he is he needs to replace Pence. Who might that be? Why not Tulsi Gabbard?

Tulsi, who's trending on twitter right now because of how she beat down Harris, Biden's new VP pick in the debates before the primaries. Tulsi, the same Samoan Democrat who voted "Present" - a functional "Nay" on impeachment, who has defended Trump, and has radically moderate views. A pick that would upend the race and re-energise his campaign.

A Democrat, non-white, female running mate would up his VP game to Biden's, and perfectly counter Kamala Harris' debate style. Tulsi has proven willing to cross party lines, and hasn't tweeted since Kamala's ascension. However, even if offered Gabbard may be hesitant to accept a position on the ticket, for obvious reasons.

To everyone but the President, this may seem like a radical and foolish move.

Trump may well be courting Gabbard behind the scenes, but Gabbard or no Gabbard he needs to make a radical shift, and probably will. Trump is a master showman, good President or not, and dropping Pence and pulling another rabbit out of the hat may be his next trick, and just the shift his campaign needs.