Republicans close to the campaign said they believed the NY businessman had narrowed his short list to Pence, former U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
Advertisement
The convention will also highlight religious leaders such as Jerry Falwell Jr., son of the famed televangelist, and Haskel Lookstein, the NY rabbi who converted Trump’s daughter, Ivanka to Judaism. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) in Indianapolis Wednesday.
Pence adds some political backbone to Trump’s presidential bid, which hasn’t exactly been the most disciplined campaign.
Trump’s vice presidential announcement is expected soon with the Republican National Convention getting under way in Cleveland next week. Traditionally, the vice presidential choice is used to build enthusiasm among party loyalists.
Now, they’re part of the inner circle that will help pluck Trump’s running mate from the pool of candidates who met with the campaign in recent days.
Further evidence of a potentially conflicted conscience: While he said Tuesday he wanted a running mate “skilled in hand-to-hand combat”, he flipped the script late Wednesday, telling Fox News he actually doesn’t need a vice presidential candidate in the mold of an attack dog. He is so well-rounded, served as a governor and I think he’s a great conservative.
“I’m sure just coincidence”, Garrett tweeted. GOP Chairman Reince Priebus and top Trump campaign officials were also in the convention center.
Trump and his family unexpectedly dined with Pence and his wife at a swanky Downtown restaurant Tuesday night, then had breakfast at the governor’s residence the next morning. He would also bring Midwestern appeal. IN law does not allow a candidate’s name to appear on both the gubernatorial ballot and vice presidential ballot. He was forced to abandon plans previous year to create a state-run, taxpayer-funded news service in his state after coming under criticism for the move.
“Always, you have to say, ‘Will that person be a good president?’ ” Trump told the New York Post last week.
Both have been supportive of Mr Trump throughout much of his bitter feud with establishment Republicans.
Trump has insisted he wants to unite the party behind him, and despite occasional forays into intra-party warfare, his VP choice should help solidify Trump’s support among evangelicals, Tea Partiers and Pence’s fellow GOP governors.
“This impressive lineup of veterans, political outsiders, faith leaders and those who know Donald Trump the best – his family and longtime friends – represent a cross-section of real people facing the same challenges as every American household”, said Trump spokesman Jason Miller. At age 15, he lead the Young Democrats in his home county.
Advertisement
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg says she regrets her “ill-advised” public criticism of Donald Trump.
