Donald Trump has selected Indiana Gov. Mike Pence to be his running mate-he is expected to formally call Pence Thursday afternoon, reports CBS News’ Major Garrett, citing a GOP official close to the process.
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The long-awaited decision upends the political landscape in IN and at least partially remakes the Trump campaign in Pence’s image.
Thanks to social media and 24/7 news, speculation about Donald Trump’s running mate hit fever pitch Thursday as the Republican nominee-in-waiting reportedly decides among Mike Pence, Newt Gingrich, Jeff Sessions and Chris Christie.
Rumors heated up Thursday morning when Pence was not on the Republican National Convention’s list of speakers, Newsweek noted.
On March 26, 2015, Pence signed the IN “religious objections” bill into law that some saw as a pass to discriminate against LGBT people. He faces a Friday deadline to withdraw from the governor’s race. Gingrich, widely considered the sure bet in the Republican veepstakes, said in an interview on the same channel that he believed the list was down to only two names – himself and Pence. However, the documents have not been filed, according to the Republican, who insisted on anonymity because that person was not authorized to publicly discuss Pence’s plans.
Mr Gingrich said he was expecting to hear from Mr Trump one way or the other some time after 1pm.
Mr Trump and his new running mate will make their first appearance as a team on Friday in NY.
The Republican National Committee is anxious enough about efforts to launch a convention coup against Trump that the party has put together a whip team to lobby members of the Rules Committee.
Trump knows Pence less personally than Gingrich and Christie, who have been vital behind-the-scenes advisers to the candidate. “But in my own mind, I probably am thinking about two”, Trump told Fox News on Wednesday. He has also taken on the important role of heading Trump’s transition planning. But some of Trump’s children, who have been closely advising their father, are said to favor different candidates.
In addition to testing the men’s chemistry together, Trump was reportedly impressed with Pence’s calm demeanor, his experience on Capitol Hill and as a governor, and Pence’s potential to assist Trump in governing, should the ticket win in November.
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A separate Trump adviser told CNN on Wednesday that Trump’s “gut” was pushing him to pick Christie, the outspoken New Jersey governor.
