Donald Trump has selected Mike Pence, the IN governor, as his running mate, according to multiple U.S. media outlets.
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Pence voted in 2002 to authorize the war in Iraq, which Trump has attacked presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton for supporting when she was in the Senate.
Mr. Trump had denied he had made a final decision on vice president as recently as Thursday afternoon, saying only that he would hold a press conference this morning.
Pence brings all-important executive and legislative experience to the ticket, which could assuage concerns among conservatives that Trump lacks governing knowledge or the skills to navigate Congress.
The delay sparked speculation that the notoriously unpredictable Trump might make a last minute change.
But instead of a showy rollout in a Midtown hotel, Trump named Pence as his running mate on Twitter, after abruptly cancelling their joint event in the aftermath of the attack in Nice, France, on Thursday. He has deep ties to evangelical Christians and other conservatives, particularly after signing a law past year that critics said would have allowed businesses to deny service to gay people for religious reasons.
Clinton’s campaign moved quickly to paint Pence as the “most extreme pick in a generation”.
Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump picked Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) as his running mate.
Pence is viewed as a safe choice for Trump. Pence was the favored choice of many Republican leaders, as well as some top advisers in Trump’s campaign, reflecting a desire to see the real estate mogul add a more traditional politician to the ticket.
“That means your First Amendment rights end at the tip of your opponent’s nose – even in the matter of political rhetoric”, Pence wrote, though he backtracked in the face of a hard re-election campaign in Indiana.
Pence withdraw his name from the IN governor’s race Friday, which he had to do by noon for the state party to be able to put forth another nominee.
Trump’s announcement came about an hour before a deadline for Pence to withdraw from his re-election race in Indiana.
Since taking office in 2013, Pence has presided over Indiana’s improving economy and falling unemployment rate, which Republicans credit to the state’s low taxes, limited regulation and pro-business climate. Yet his popularity at home has tumbled and re-election was not guaranteed.
Pence would be a reliably conservative No. 2 with a calm demeanor and deep ties to Washington. He deepened his ties to evangelical Christians and other conservatives past year when he signed the law affecting gays. He later identified as an evangelical Christian and was inspired to join the Republican Party by former President Ronald Reagan, whose “happy warrior” rhetorical style Pence has since tried to emulate.
According to the Republican familiar with the process, the frenetic day was made more complicated by the fact that Trump was in California for a series of fundraisers, isolated from almost all of his closest advisers, including his three adult children and his campaign chairman, Paul Manafort. Trump told Fox News he had not made his “final, final decision”, and his advisers cautioned that he could change his mind. Pence has said he does not support trade protectionism or a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States, two policies that are central to Trump’s campaign message.
In addition to Pence, Trump’s shortlist included former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, according to people familiar with the candidate’s thinking.
Trump is now up against two clocks: The Republican convention kicks off in Cleveland on Monday, leaving little time for re-scheduling.
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Trump’s announcement comes three days before the Republican National Convention opens in Cleveland, Ohio, where Trump will officially become the party’s presidential nominee.
