Donald Trump‘s chosen running mate once tried to drain HIV prevention funding for “gay cure” therapy. The rules committee of the Republican National Convention, meeting in Cleveland Thursday, voted by 87-12 against a measure that would declare delegates to the convention “unbound”, and therefore free to vote against Trump even if he had won their state primary or caucus.
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Trump says the man who will join him on the Republican presidential ticket is a “man of character, honor and honesty”.
“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.
Sources tell ABC News that it was only after Trump spoke with his leadership team that he chose to remain with the Pence pick. “He is a solid, solid person”, Trump said, praising Pence for leading his state well despite what he said was obstruction from the Obama administration.
While presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton’s logo has been praised by many designers, it prompted intra-party grousing previous year. But the Trump campaign has less control over how the RNC spends its cash and no say over how superPACs spend their money.
“I absolutely believe we need more women in elected office”, she said. The titles include “Operation Golden Mane: The Donald Trump Incident”, “Donald Trump Builds a Wall: A Funny Story” and “Trumpocalypse Now: A Horror Satire”. Ted Cruz before the IN primary, served IN the House from 2001-2012 before a successful run for governor.
There was also the matter of Christie putting Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner’s father in the clink years ago, a sin few sons could possibly forgive, no matter the quality of the arguments from the prosecutor who made them.
So as Trump was off in California on a fundraising trip Thursday, he and Pence spoke several times.
“I accept your invitation to run and serve as vice president of the United States of America”, Pence said.
Some Republican lawmakers said they liked the idea of Pence on the ticket, saying it would improve the tone and tenor of the debate.
In his remarks introducing Pence, Trump claimed he could bring back American jobs by re-working trade deals, and said that voters are “tired of a country that has terrible trade deals, that has no borders”.
Pence, 57, would have to withdraw his re-election bid as IN governor to join the ticket.
The setting for the televised roll-out, two days before the Republican National Convention kicks off in Cleveland, was a New York Hilton Midtown ballroom with floor-to-ceiling drapery, multiple US flags and little other decoration other than the usual “Trump” placard on the front of the podium.
On Wednesday night, Trump had tweeted that he would unveil his VP choice on Friday at 11 a.m.
Though Trump had said he would postpone his news in the wake of the terror attack in Nice on Bastille Day, he ended up pre-empting his – and his party’s – own press conference. The polished, silver-haired conservative is adept at speaking many words without saying much of anything-a studied contrast to Trump’s penchant for off-message outbursts.
Connected to that is the critical response that Pence is not conservative enough, and has capitulated on too many socially conservative issues in the state. Pence called it “offensive and unconstitutional”.
Trump’s national campaign spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, said “a decision has not been made”. He might just as easily continue running the White House for his good friend even after he’s done filling the 4,000 federal appointments needed to staff a White House.
This year Pence clashed with the local Catholic archdiocese by opposing the settlement of Syrian refugees in Indianapolis.
Delegates are traditionally seated based on the political importance of their state, and Trump is from NY.
“I think that it’s very clear that Trump is the dominant partner in this relationship”, Highsmith said between chuckles.
Pence’s connections could help ease tensions with a Republican Party still having a hard time digesting Trump, and raise funds for the campaign. Dan Senor, a former aide to the 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney, tweeted after the running mate announcement.
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In choosing Pence, Trump appears to be looking past their numerous policy differences.
