Trump’s official announcement is expected Friday in NY at the Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan.
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Trump tweeted he would delay the announcement after a driver in a truck plowed through a crowd in Nice, France, killing at least 60 people.
Now that Donald Trump has postponed his announcement on who his vice presidential pick will be, it may be the paperwork filed at the Statehouse that does the talking for him.
But Pence can’t run for both vice president and governor at the same time. Joined by daughter Ivanka and sons Donald Jr. and Eric Trump, Trump also had breakfast with Pence and his wife, Karen, on Wednesday at the governor’s residence in Indianapolis.
“I haven’t made a final, final decision”, Trump told Fox News on Thursday night, saying his three finalists were “fantastic”. “But there are other good people that he’s considering as well”, said Ryan.
Pence’s team has gotten word to start preparing to get the official nod Thursday, and the Trump campaign is now planning for the official nod Thursday, according to two sources familiar with the process. “I look forward to working with him as vice president”, said Penny Nance, president and CEO of Concerned Women for America. That’s critically important as the Republican National Convention is set to kick off Monday in Cleveland. Traditionally, the vice presidential choice is used to build enthusiasm among party loyalists. Trump and Pence have since met to discuss the running mate position.
A spokeswoman for the campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The national press will “focus on how much his policies differ from Trump’s, but isn’t that what we want?” said state Rep. David Ober of Albion, a Republican who’s been strongly critical of Trump but who supports Pence.
Jason Miller, Trump’s senior communications adviser, added: “A decision has not been made by Mr. Trump. Of course it bothers you a little bit”.
Donald Trump has chosen Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his vice presidential running mate, a source with direct knowledge confirms to NPR’s Mara Liasson. “He’s a good, safe, solid conservative”, said Republican strategist Scott Reed.
Trump formally selecting Pence would provide a running mate who would appeal to conservatives and rally the GOP’s base.
But Pence is the only one who has a clock ticking. Gingrich also held a Facebook discussion on the “VP selection process” as Trump mulled the possibility of picking him, Pence or Christie.
Christie also faces sinking – and near record-low – approval ratings at home, and some view that he could be a potential drag on the Trump ticket.
A born-again Christian, Pence is socially conservative, especially on issues of abortion and LGBT rights. That contrasts with Trump’s strong stance on immigration, marked by his pledge to build a wall along the border with Mexico.
Before his current job, Pence, 57, spent 12 years in Washington as a congressman. And he splits with Trump by supporting a major trade pact. Trump won IN anyway, prompting Cruz to drop out of the race to be the party’s nominee.
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Pence is running for re-election, but IN law prevents him from seeking two offices at once. Although he was popular early in his tenure, Pence’s approval rating suffered in the year since he signed the contentious Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
