Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), who has been mentioned as a possible 2024 running mate for former President Donald Trump, recently called the idea of being Trump's vice president "intriguing" and "interesting," according to Newsweek.

Yet, she also seemed to downplay the notion somewhat as the congresswoman insisted that she remained wholly focused on serving her South Carolina constituents.

Mace says Trump VP idea is "intriguing" and "interesting"

Rep. Mace recently appeared on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" for an interview with guest host Charlemagne tha God, who mentioned that she was on the "shortlist" to be Trump's VP pick and asked "Is being Trump's running mate really worth it" in light of what happened to the future political prospects of former Vice President Mike Pence.

"Well, I haven't been asked yet," Mace replied, "and my focus is now on South Carolina, as it always will be, and I understand why people might be talking about it. I do a lot for women's issues and Republicans lost women last year. "But my focus today, as it always will be -- I love the Lowcountry, where you and I grew up in -- and that's where my focus is."

Asked if the idea was "intriguing," however, the congresswoman admitted, "I think it's intriguing. It's interesting, and it's a conversation we need to have because I want my little girl to know that she can be president one day."

"And I want to see Republicans put women on the ticket -- vice president, presidential," Mace added. "So I think it is an important conversation to have, but so are too a lot of other conversations."

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) calls rumors that Donald Trump may pick her as his running mate “intriguing”:

“I haven't been asked yet, and my focus is now on South Carolina ... I think it's a conversation we need to have.” pic.twitter.com/zmuFBTCJQT

— The Recount (@therecount) October 31, 2023

Mace reportedly "floating herself" as VP candidate, insiders say

It was just about two weeks ago that the Daily Beast reported that, per several Republican sources in South Carolina, Rep. Mace "has been privately telling Republicans that she has a real shot at being named Trump’s vice presidential nominee for the 2024 election."

According to three of those sources, she'd been "floating herself as a VP pick" since the early summer months, which was surprising in light of a combative history between Trump and Mace, with her sharply criticizing him as responsible in the wake of the 2021 Jan. 6 Capitol riot and him endorsing and supporting a primary challenger against her in 2022.

The outlet also noted that unnamed sources in the orbits of both Trump and Mace asserted that regardless of any public positioning or statements to the contrary, there remained a level of animosity and distrust between the two Republican politicians.

Mace previously expressed willingness to "bury the hatchet" and support Trump

However, Politico reported in June that Rep. Mace had seemingly done an about-face with regard to former President Trump and shifted from being a sharp critic to a staunch supporter after he began to be criminally indicted in multiple cases that appear to many Republicans, including those who aren't particularly fond of Trump, to be politically motivated prosecutions.

Mace told the outlet she no longer had any hard feelings toward Trump and was open to supporting him as the 2024 GOP nominee, and said at that time, "We can’t afford four more years of Joe Biden. I’m willing to bury the hatchet to save the country, and I know President Trump is too."

There have been persistent rumors over the past year that Trump would likely pick a woman to be his running mate in 2024, and The Hill reported in September that Trump, when asked about exactly that in an interview with NBC News' Kristen Welker, said, "I like the concept, but we’re going to pick the best person," and added, "But I do like the concept, yes."

Aside from Mace, other probable contenders to be a female running mate for Trump include, in no particular order, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY).