Pence praised Trump as “the people’s choice” who “understands the anxiety and the aspiration of the American people like no leader since Reagan”.
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But his pick lost much of the political impact that campaigns normally try to build around a vice presidential selection due to a disorganized and leak-prone process.
But while Trump’s campaign has been defined by straying from Republican orthodoxy, those deviations can be a bit awkward now that his running mate has typically toed the party line. A steady conservative with extensive governing experience, Pence may also serve to reassure Republicans who are skeptical about Trump’s conservative bona fides.
During his years in Congress, Pence was known for a calm demeanor and conservative record.
Pence, 57, was a Republican lawmaker for 12 years and the third-highest-ranking member of the GOP in the House before becoming the governor of in in 2013.
The joint appearance was meant to catapult the party toward a successful and unified Republican National Convention, which kicks off in Cleveland on Monday.
The former congressman also is a proven fundraiser with close ties to billionaire industrialists David and Charles Koch and their network of wealthy donors, many of whom have been dismissive of Trump. But some of Trump’s children, who have been closely advising their father, were said to favor different candidates.
“Mike Pence was my first choice, I’ve admired the work he’s done especially in the state of Indian”, Trump said. With Pence sitting in a NY hotel, Trump chose to postpone the announcement and later told Fox News he had not yet settled on his “final, final” choice.
Pence got an early look at the roller coaster ride he has signed up for over the next four months in the immediate hours after Trump called him to offer him the job and he flew to NY expecting things to be made official on Friday.
On Thursday, Trump had convened a midnight campaign conference call about his pick, even after he’d had Pence fly to NY to accept his offer.
Trump had spent weeks vetting vice presidential contenders, including former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and only zeroed in on Pence in recent days.
Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has a new campaign logo that’s giving some people the giggles.
Fox News’ Sean Hannity asked Pence about the issue during an interview that aired Friday night.
Donald Trump is keeping suspense alive over his choice of a running mate, sidelining the announcement because of the deadly attack in Nice, France.
Pence took the microphone and presented Trump as someone who “gets the American people”. Ted Cruz (R-TX). Trump suggested that Pence endorsed Cruz because he was under pressure from established Republicans.
State law prohibits candidates from being on ballots in two contests, and Pence faced a noon Friday deadline for withdrawing from the governor’s race.
“As governor, Pence personally spearheaded an anti-LGBT law that legalized discrimination against the LGBT community, alienated businesses, caused boycotts, lost investments and embarrassed Hoosiers – a law he was later forced to revise”, the statement read. Prior to his service as governor, he spent six terms representing IN in Congress.
“I think 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”, he said.
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”.
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In addition, he persuaded President Barack Obama’s administration to accept a state-launched alternative to Medicaid as the vehicle for expanded coverage through Obama’s signature health care law.
