After taking the stage, Pence said that he is “humbled” to be at Trump’s side, accepting his invitation to run as his vice presidential candidate.
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Unable to drag his feet any longer, Donald Trump finally brought out Mike Pence as his running mate Saturday morning in Manhattan.
Speaking at a breakfast for the MI delegation to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, the New Jersey Republican subtly jabbed his fellow vice presidential hopeful, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
When Trump first made similar comments about Pence’s endorsement in May, the governor responded by publishing an op-ed enthusiastically linking Cruz to Ronald Reagan. Trump conceded that one of the reasons he’d selected Pence was to promote unity within the Republican Party, left deeply fractured by Trump’s ascent.
Trump appeared to repeatedly digress from his prepared speech to go off on a characteristic conversational stream of consciousness, crowing about how he had predicted terror attacks in Europe and Britain’s vote to exit the European Union.
He arrived in NY late Thursday only to be alerted by an aide to a Fox News interview in which Trump was insisted he had not yet made a “final, final decision”, despite already asking Pence to be his No 2.
“The American people are exhausted”, Pence said in remarks that included numerous same talking points that until recently he was using in his bid for re-election.
Asked about the modified logo, Trump campaign spokesman Jason Miller told CNN, “We have a number of logos. We’re exhausted of having politicians in both parties in Washington D.C. tell us: We’ll get to those problems tomorrow”.
Trump called Pence his first choice and touted his record in IN on lowering the unemployment rate and balancing the budget.
“And one of the reasons is party unity, so many people have said, party unity. I don’t want to be an outsider”. Pence’s quick about turn fed into chatter from critics that he would be Trump’s handmaiden, even as scores of internet memes erupted over social media about the Trump-Pence campaign logos unveiled on Friday.
Pence, who describes himself as “a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order”, is regarded as a safe choice within conservative circles, able to pick up support among moderate Republicans and evangelical Christians.
“Donald Trump is a good man, and he will make a great president of the United States of America”, he said. The two men, instead of presenting an image of an emboldened, unified front, barely spent any time on stage together, as Trump quickly exited after greeting Pence with a perfunctory handshake and arm pat.
The presumptive Republican nominee had already indicated that Pence is his pick for Vice President. Just as Trump was settling on Pence, Republicans gathering in Cleveland essentially quelled the movement to oust Trump at the convention, all but assuring he’ll be the GOP nominee.
Multiple members of the MI delegation told Christie they hoped he’d be Trump’s choice for attorney general, and Christie played coy. “And they got crushed immediately, because people want what we’re saying to happen”.
The Clinton campaign on Saturday sought to capitalize on the fitful vice presidential roll out, releasing a web video mocking the billionaire for being indecisive despite running a campaign based on his decision-making skills. “In that order”, Pence said.
Mr Trump, 70, chose Mr Pence, 57, over two politicians he considers friends and close advisers, former House of Representatives speaker Newt Gingrich, 73, and New Jersey governor Chris Christie, 53. Pence was notable while serving as governor for signing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Pence quickly moved into line with some of Trump’s most controversial policies before the roll out.
The governor has been a long-time advocate of trade deals such as NAFTA and the Trans Pacific Partnership, both of which Mr Trump aggressively opposes.
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“Thank you for the honor and God bless the United States of America”, Pence concluded. Pence also endorsed Sen.
