In selecting Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his vice-presidential running mate, Donald Trump once again proved that principle has no place in Trumpland.
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House Speaker Paul Ryan, who has endorsed Trump but has not shied away from criticizing the presumptive nominee at times, called Pence the ideal man for the job.
The Republican Party is already working to raise money right off Donald Trump’s decision to name Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his running mate.
Clinton’s campaign also spotlighted Pence’s anti-abortion record and his signing of a law that allowed IN businesses to ignore anti-discrimination rules that conflict with their religious beliefs, a measure widely denounced as anti-gay after the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage.
“Voters deserve better than more of their divisive policies and “me-first” economic proposals”, Podesta said.
The convention and vice presidential announcement give Trump back-to-back opportunities to reassure Americans – as well as leaders within his own party – that he’s prepared for the presidency.
The campaign also texted supporters notifying them of his opposition to abortion.
In a brief interview with The Associated Press, Mr Gingrich said he had still not been told by Trump that he would not be the choice. Pence had supported an alternative reorganization plan at the time. “He is choosing a person who has the experience inside and outside Washington, Christian conservative, very different style that I think shows a lot of maturity”.
The main question facing any vice presidential pick – could he or she serve as president – tilted to Pence, who is at least as qualified as any of the other Republicans who were willing to be considered.
Pence had been in a tight re-election bid for governor and faced a Friday deadline to withdraw from that race in order to run for vice president instead. Pence, in contrast, is a well-known social conservative who proposed defunding Planned Parenthood in 2007 and urged blocking the entire federal budget in 2011 in hopes of closing down the nonprofit organization.
The New York businessman is to be formally nominated as the party’s candidate for the November 8 election at the Republican National Convention next week in Cleveland.
Meanwhile, a longstanding effort to deny Trump the nomination appears to have failed, when the convention’s rules committee refused to allow a clause that would have let delegates vote their “conscience” at the convention.
Foes say they believe the movement is essentially finished.
“Thanks to Gov. Mike Pence’s strong, conservative leadership, IN is IN a more prosperous position now than before he was elected, and it’s a direct result of his commitment to pro-growth policies and successful governance”, Martinez said.
That word comes from a Republican with direct knowledge of the selection process.
The Republican says Trump made the offer on Thursday afternoon, before Pence traveled later in the day to NY. “It was never not him”, according to one Republican briefed on the private talks between Pence and Trump who requested anonymity to discuss them.
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FILE – Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, with Indiana Gov. Mike Pence during a campaign event at the Grand Park Events Center in Westfield, Ind., July 12, 2016. The billionaire said in a series of television interviews Thursday night that he’d not yet settled on a “final, final” choice.
