Trump’s prospective running mate has also taken different positions on free trade and a proposal to at least temporarily bar Muslims from entering the United States.
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“I haven’t made my final, final decision”, he told Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren Thursday evening.
Trump tapped Pence to be his running mate on Thursday, according to multiple media reports, as he tried to spark enthusiasm among evangelical Republicans who have so far been skeptical of the free-wheeling real estate mogul’s campaign.
Pence, who has previously served 12 years in congress and a four-year term as Indiana’s governor, has allegedly dropped his re-election bid, presumedly to become Trump’s running mate. Jeff Sessions, who as been serving as an adviser to Trump, is back in Washington after his trip to in on Wednesday. Long accustomed to making important strategic decisions by sheer improvisation, he is now faced with the most permanent, and perhaps most important, decision of the campaign. Pence, who is running for re-election, faces a noon Friday deadline to withdraw from the race.
Gingrich packs the political punch that Trump lacks.
He said he had told Trump that he needed to decide whether he wanted “two pirates” on the same ticket.
If Pence does join the Trump ticket, the move would have ripple effects down the ballot for other Hoosiers running for office this fall.
Wisconsin Rep. Sean Duffy told CNN’s “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer”, said that Pence’s strong understanding of foreign policy will lend “a good steady hand if they win to decide how to navigate some of the big challenges in the world”.
Lacking a traditional campaign operation, ties with the GOP establishment and the desire to pay millions of dollars to political consultants, Trump has, in effect, morphed his corporate operations, in which his children play substantive leadership roles, into a small but intensely loyal political kitchen cabinet. “I have some appeal in virtually every state”, Gingrich said in a Facebook live video. “Because Trump has never held office and people are anxious to see how he would assemble a government, this pick might get more attention than usual”, said Republican strategist Charlie Black.
Pence had endorsed Texas Sen. He told CNN that he had meetings in the city for the campaign – before specifying that it was for the Pence campaign, not Trump’s.
Pence is “no firebrand”, according to the Star, which says the reported vice presidential pick’s “polite demeanor would strike a stark contrast with that of Trump”, who has been criticized for his bluster and propensity for saying eyebrow-raising things. “We’re very good friends”. It was a major blow to Republican foes of Trump who have been working to try to thwart his nomination. “Clearly, Mike is one of those”.
On Wednesday, Donald Trump and his family had breakfast with Governor Mike Pence. “I don’t think it will derail the campaign moving forward”.
A Republican familiar with Pence’s thinking said the paperwork has been drawn up for him to take that step. On the contrary, his archconservative social views could help motivate liberal voters and young people to turn out for Hillary Clinton in the fall.
At the same time, Democrats have looked with some dismay at Mr. Trump’s tenacity in the Midwest, and at his unusual popularity with white men.
Here are five reasons why Pence makes so much sense.
The two appeared to get along well, and Trump teased the crowd in Westfield, Ind., “I don’t know if he’s going to be your governor or your vice president, who the hell knows!”
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When pressed, Pence was similarly weasely.
