Ivanka’s view unclear. Manafort for Pence.
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Update: Trump has chose to postpone the announcement because of the truck attack in Nice, France.
Trump still faces the herculean task of uniting the Republican Party at the convention. And we don’t know how Pence would actually perform on the campaign trail. Indianapolis television station WTHR posted a video showing Pence arriving Thursday evening at a private airport outside NY.
While Trump could find many positives in announcing Pence as his running mate Friday, there are also some drawbacks.
The presumptive nominee has not yet made a final decision. I mean, I’ve got three people that are fantastic.
He told Fox News earlier on Thursday that: “I think Newt (Gingrich) is a fantastic person”.
“I think he’s able to do all things that would be required of him, if that’s the way my father decides to go”, he told MSNBC.
This is especially true when you compare Pence with the other finalists for the job. “But I haven’t made a final, final decision”.
As the day began, it appeared the decision would come quickly. “He’s still my dad”.
Four days after the interview, several significant portions of the law were rolled back. More: “Republicans familiar with the celebrity mogul candidate’s deliberations said that he could spring a surprise”.
Trump is selecting a standard-issue Republican as his running mate because standard-issue Republicans have decided they can accept Trump.
Mr Pence has until noon on Friday to officially withdraw his name from the IN governor’s race. If that pick is Pence, it could impact the Republican party in the gubernatorial race with losing the incumbent.
Though Pence is serving his first term as governor, he’s an experienced politician, having served in congressional leadership roles during his six terms as a member of the House of Representatives.
– Pence has proven he is willing to use his Christian faith to set policy in Indiana.
Rich Galen, a GOP strategist who worked for former President George W. Bush, said Pence’s even demeanor and family-man image would balance Trump’s more picaresque personality. “He’s the yang to Donald’s yin”. It may be that Trump wants Gingrich, Christie, and Pence each to attend the announcement tomorrow, partly to rebuild suspense and partly as a show of party unity.
In December on Twitter Pence called Trump’s proposed ban on Muslims entering the United States “offensive and unconstitutional”. Matt Mackowiak floats an intriguing possibility: What if Trump announces Pence as VP and also announces Gingrich and Christie as cabinet officers, Secretary of Defense and AG, respectively?
Democrats, not surprisingly, were harshly critical. I’m two years older than Trump and Pence is 20 years younger than me.
As governor, Pence focused early in his terms on education and the economy, winning praise for his communication skills and willingness to work across the political aisle.
Under national pressure, he later signed an amendment stating businesses could not discriminate against gay people, drawing criticism from conservatives who said they felt betrayed by the revision. He has historically opposed LGBTQ rights, opposing same-sex marriage on both the state and national level, and signing into a law a bill which critics say leaves LGBTQ individuals in Indiana vulnerable to discrimination, according to The Indianapolis Star.
– Pence has an A rating from the National Rifle Association.
The governor, who is up for re-election, also considered running for president in 2016. A selection like Ohio Gov. John Kasich might have done more to help Trump pick up a key state if November’s election ends up being close.
On Wednesday afternoon, Pence said he was “humbled to be a part” of the process.
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Christie acknowledged on MSNBC his hankering for the job – another breach of political protocol.
