“I’m here today to introduce the man who will be my partner in this campaign and White House…”, Trump said in his official introduction of the in governor as his running mate.
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In a wide-ranging speech in which he touted his own “landslide” victory in the Republican primaries, Trump cast Pence as a ideal complement for the White House: a veteran of government, a man with a Midwestern sensibility and strong Republican credentials as a job creator and budget balancer.
The pick of Pence as running mate came as Trump was scrambling to solidify the Republican base and win support from social conservatives. Trump referred to Pence as “a solid person”.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump (right) introduces Gov. Mike Pence, R-Ind., during a campaign event to announce Pence as his vice presidential running mate on Saturday.
“Donald Trump again and again emerged because I think very much like the 40th president that you and I so admire, Ronald Reagan, Donald Trump understands the anxiety and the aspiration of the American people like no leader since Reagan”. Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton claimed Pence to be “the most extreme VP pick in a generation”.
The joint appearance was meant to catapult the party toward a successful and unified Republican National Convention, which kicks off in Cleveland on Monday.
The signs may be a joke but the message couldn’t be more serious.
Trump acknowledged that the choice was about unifying the party.
“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”. “I want to be an outsider”. During the course of Pence’s 900 or so words, Trump interrupted him quite often during the 2,160-word diatribe. Trump then exited the stage while Pence spoke.
The two did not walk out together, appearing at each other’s side only after Trump delivered a rambling 28-minute address that included a plug for his new hotel in Washington. In a humble tone, Pence accepted Trump’s invitation to serve as his running mate.
“He looks very good”, added the NY real estate mogul, who is known to comment openly on people’s appearances. Ted Cruz before the IN primary, implying that the governor was acting on behalf of outside interests and noting that Pence’s endorsement of Cruz included significant praise for Trump. Ted Cruz during the Indiana Primary, but said he appreciated the nice things Pence said about him.
“No”, Trump said with a grim smile.
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“I am very supportive of Donald Trump’s call to temporarily suspend immigration from countries where terrorist influence and impact represents a threat to the United States”, Pence told conservative Fox News commentator Sean Hannity.
