“Indiana Governor Mike Pence was my first choice, I’ve admired the work he’s done, especially in the state of Indiana”, Trump said at an event in New York City.
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U.S. Presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump said on Saturday he chose Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate to boost party unity.
His return caps a tumultuous few days that began when Pence accepted Trump’s offer on Wednesday, covertly boarded a private plane Thursday for NY, only to have Trump say during a TV interview later that night that he had not made a “final, final” decision.
While some have criticized him for his choice of restaurant.
“When we elect one of the best negotiators in the world as president of the United States, I’m open to renegotiating these trade agreements”, Pence said.
“To every American, who shares our convictions, join us”, said the former congressman in the same room in the Midtown Manhattan Hilton hotel where Ronald W. Reagan launched his own campaign for president in 1979.
“They want leadership in Washington DC that will solve problems”, added Pence, before Trump stepped in to clarify their new team dynamic.
“Hillary Clinton is the embodiment of corruption”.
The joint appearance was meant to catapult the party toward a successful and unified Republican National Convention, which kicks off in Cleveland on Monday.
“Back to Mike Pence”, Trump said, interrupting himself during a lengthy explanation about why evangelical voters support his candidacy. “In that order”, Pence said.
Michael J. Collins, a Republican delegate from Reisterstown, said he had heard of Pence, but was not familiar with the governor’s policies.
“What a difference between crooked Hillary and Mike Pence”, he said.
The Trump-Pence event offered Americans the first glimpse at what the 2016 Republican presidential ticket will look like, barring the unexpected.
Turning to his family, Pencechoked up while thanking his kids for their “unflinching love and tireless effort”, and his mom who “always believed in every one of us”.
Pence is viewed as a safe choice for Trump. On Friday, the group noted that as a member of the House of Representatives, Pence had been a strong voice for “free markets and economic liberty” at a time when the Republican leadership had been weak on these issues.
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, 57, is known as a social conservative and devout Christian.
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Trump accused Clinton of leading President Barack Obama “down a frightful path” in foreign policy. “She’s going to pay it at the polls, believe me”. Trump delayed the event out of respect for the deadly truck attack in Nice, France, but he also had lingering doubts about choosing Pence. He’s been critical of Trump’s proposed temporary ban on foreign Muslims entering the US, calling the idea “offensive and unconstitutional”.
