Mr. Trump’s campaign said he’ll name a running mate by Friday – the same day Mr. Pence needs to decide if he’ll run for governor again.
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The source says – as Trump headed to have breakfast with Pence this morning – the VP decision still was not made.
According to a story from ABC News, Trump was not supposed to stay in IN last night, but stayed in the state after some “technical issues” and met with Pence this morning. Trump and his family met Tuesday with Christie. It was only after his campaign had some mechanical issues that Trump and his team were forced to spend the night. Chris Christie is still among the top contenders for his vice president pick, calling the New Jersey governor an “extraordinary warrior” and saying he has chemistry with him. Trump and his children Eric, Don Jr. and Ivanka, as well as her husband, Jared Kushner, had breakfast at the IN governor’s mansion with Pence. “He’s a good guy, by the way, a lot of people don’t understand that”, Trump said.
Senator Jean Breaux, D-Indianapolis, former IN state Rep. John Aguilera and Indianapolis community leader J.D. Ford joined the protestors on Monument Circle to address Pence and Trump’s previous records. Trump told the Journal that they are “two extraordinary warriors”.
Governor Mike Pence could be the front-runner according to some close to Trump. The governor also took a couple shots at presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, saying “it would be extremely careless” to elect the former Secretary of State to the White House.
Both Newt Gingrich and Alabama Senator Jefferson Sessions, who are both considered contenders for the position, also traveled to Indianapolis on Wednesday. A Republican close to the campaign confirmed the scheduled meeting and a CNN reporter saw Sessions board a flight to Indianapolis from Washington. “Because Trump has never held office and people are anxious to see how he would assemble a government, this pick might get more attention than usual”, said Republican strategist Charlie Black.
Pence auditioned publicly for the role on Tuesday night, appearing with Trump at a closed-door fundraiser and introducing Trump at a rally in Westfield, Ind.
Pence was also slammed for the planned 2015 launch of “JustIN”, a state-operated news service that was ditched after critics panned it as “Pravda on the Plains”. “To paraphrase the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, I think it would be “extremely careless” to elect Hillary Clinton as the next president of the United States”.
Former Trump adviser Michael Caputo said Pence fit that bill.
“We’re exhausted of being told this is as good as it gets”, he added. “We’re ready for Donald Trump”.
Chanting, “Fire Mike Pence” and “This is what democracy looks like”, Joy Conners, of Indianapolis, and almost 100 other Hoosiers protested the fundraiser.
Trump and his family met with Pence earlier in the morning at the governor’s residence.
Trump, speaking with Fox News’ Bret Baier in Indianapolis, called Pence “amazing” and said he’s narrowing the short-list, without revealing who is left. One of the biggest questions surrounding the choice is whether Trump will pick someone with a reputation as a fighter or someone who may be viewed as a safer political partner.
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“It.was a surprise to me”, said 59-year-old Valerie Howard, of Noblesville, Indiana. The meeting was created to let Trump’s family get to know the Christie better before the presumptive nominee formalizes his decision.
