In elevating Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb to replace Gov. Mike Pence on the November ticket, Indiana Republicans made the safe choice, a political expert said Tuesday afternoon.
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John Zody, Chairman of the Indiana Democratic Party, released the following statement after Lieutenant Governor Eric Holcomb was chosen by the Republican State Central Committee to replace Mike Pence as the Republican nominee for governor.
Jeff Cardwell, Indiana Republican Party chairman, announcing Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb is the Republican gubernatorial nominee.
Holcomb will face Democrat John Gregg in November.
But it’s also one that bridges a defining gap in the Indiana Republican Party between supporters of popular former Gov. Mitch Daniels and backers of Pence – two camps that never hid their disdain for each other.
Pence and Gregg were in a tight campaign that was a rematch of the 2012 race that Pence narrowly won.
The rally, which will be Pence’s first solo campaign stop since becoming Trump’s running mate, is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Waukesha County Expo Center. The same polls show that just 73 percent of Wisconsin Republicans say they intend to vote for Trump – far less than the levels typical in most election years, said pollster Charles Franklin. Gregg says his small-town roots give him a personal understanding of rural issues.
But Helmke said that while running against Holcomb makes it harder for the Democratic candidate, it won’t make it as hard as a selection of Brooks – the second-place candidate, according to reports -would have.
“I’m still John Gregg and I’m the only one who’s running for governor who has been running for governor”.
The Republican State Committee chose Holcomb over 4th District Congressman Todd Rokita, 5th District Congresswoman Susan Brooks and State Senator Jim Tomes, of Posey County.
Still, a rejection of Holcomb could’ve been embarrassing for Pence just days after his ratification as the Republican vice presidential candidate.
Holcomb and his wife, Janet, live on the northwest side of Indianapolis.
Then last week, at the Republican National Convention, Holcomb officially nominated Pence for vice president of the United States, alongside Donald Trump, creating a gubernatorial ballot vacancy that he now will fill.
Holcomb spent 10 months running for this year’s Republican U.S. Senate nomination but had little fundraising success before he dropped out to accept the lieutenant governor appointment.
“I especially want to congratulate my friend Eric Holcomb on his nomination today”. Several other top Republican officials and donors also are endorsing Holcomb.
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Brooks is highlighting an endorsement she received from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. If you would like to discuss another topic, look for a relevant article.
