CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio (CNN) – He might be the runner-up, but New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Monday he’s “really relieved” presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump picked a governor as his running mate, calling Mike Pence as an “outstanding” candidate.
Advertisement
“What a difference between crooked Hilary Clinton and Mike Pence”, Trump said during his almost 30 minute speech introducing Pence.
When pointed out that Pence also voted for war in Iraq as did his Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, Trump said the Indiana Governor is entitled to make mistake once in a while, but the former Secretary of State is not.
“What a difference between crooked Hillary and Mike Pence”, he said.
In an interview on “Fox News Sunday”, Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort conceded that “this team is not going to see eye-to-eye on everything”.
Created to represent his partnership with his new running, Mike Pence, the joint campaign image depicts the “T” from Trump and the “P” from Mike Pence interconnected with the phrase: “Trump Pence: Make America great again”.
But Indiana Gov. Pence, Trump’s new running mate, also supported the war at the time.
“We just couldn’t be more honored as a family and looking very much forward to tomorrow’s announcement”, said Pence, who was joined by his wife, Karen, and his oldest daughter, Charlotte. Last month, Trump softened his position on the ban, saying the policy wouldn’t apply to Muslims from countries not typically associated with terrorism. Pence said he had received a call Wednesday about serving on the ticket. “Would you go in and say, ‘You crossed the line and I think you should apologize?'” After a back and forth, Trump said, not so convincingly, “I’d like him to, if he thinks I was doing something wrong”. Before it started, supporters listened to the Rolling Stones song “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”, a tune in regular rotation at Trump events.
What do you think about the Trump-Pence tandem?
“But she’s not?” Stahl asked of Clinton. Trump interrupted that the vote was a “long time ago” and that they (those that voted for the Iraq war) were “misled”.
But Pence seemed to preview his own role as a Trump-interpreter of sorts – a measured, experienced politician who can frame Trump’s more controversial views and mold them to be more palatable for a wary audience.
The Trump-Pence event offered Americans the first glimpse at what the 2016 Republican presidential ticket will look like, barring the unexpected.
CLEVELAND, Ohio-The Republican National Convention kicks off tonight, but Indiana Republicans are waiting for Wednesday.
“It’s a horror show; [jobs are] moving to Mexico, moving to other places”, Trump said.
Trump, in a meandering, 28-minute speech, managed to work in a plug for his new hotel in Washington before Pence even took the stage. At another point, Stahl asked about Pence’s support of the Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership (TPP).
Advertisement
“I don’t care”, Trump responded. “But I have great confidence in law enforcement”, he said.
