Donald Trump is set to announce his pick for vice president on Friday in NY, he tweeted Wednesday night, as the search appears to have whittled down to three main prospects.
Advertisement
Trump met with Gingrich and another contender – Indiana Gov. Mike Pence – in Indianapolis on Wednesday and are believed to be on the shortlist for the vice presidency. Sources tell ABC News that Trump views Sessions as an adviser, not so much a vice presidential candidate.
Pence, who gave a tepid endorsement to Texas Sen.
At a rally in Cincinnati on July 6, Gingrich introduced Trump. “I think he has spoken into the frustration and the longings of the American people as no one since the 40th president, and I think you’re going to continue to see him do that”.
“We are ready to put a fighter, a builder and a patriot in the Oval Office of the United States of America”, he continued.
Pence, 57, a former congressman who has flirted in the past with a presidential run of his own, would be perhaps the safest choice for Trump given his popularity among conservatives and his experience in government. Mr Trump told The Wall Street Journal that Mr Sessions, his top US Senate advocate, is also still in the mix.
Trump had originally planned to fly back from IN with Pence following a rally Tuesday night, but his plane was grounded by mechanical issues, so Trump’s kids flew to join them IN IN, another person familiar with his movements but not authorized to discuss them said. “Who the hell knows?” Trump told the crowd, referring to Pence.
Gingrich predicted the pick would come Wednesday or Thursday, telling Fox News, “It’s a little bit like ‘The Apprentice.’ You find out sooner or later who the last one standing is”.
Trump, a NY businessman who only got into politics a year ago, is looking for an experienced politician to round out his ticket, and Pence, Christie and Gingrich have the necessary experience.
But he also has plenty of baggage as well.
But Pence has had a couple of missteps as Indiana’s chief executive. IN law bars him for running for both offices, and the deadline to withdraw is Friday.
He also drew fire past year for signing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which critics said could allow businesses to refuse to serve gay and lesbian patrons. After an outcry and the threat of boycotts, he signed a revised version of the legislation. One source indicated to CNN that he wanted a political attack dog, a true scrapper who could defend Donald Trump from all the “attacks” he receives daily in the press.
Gingrich lavished praise on Pence, calling him a “stabilizing” force and comparing him to Ronald Reagan’s vice president, George H.W. Bush.
But so, too, are Trump’s other potential nominees.
Advertisement
A spokesman for the Vermont senator said Wednesday that Sanders will not seek more platform changes in Philadelphia, after winning significant concessions during a meeting in Orlando over the weekend.
