As partnerships go, theirs is not exactly a bromance. They did not link arms afterward. And when they shook hands, with the political world watching, it was only for a few seconds before Trump left the podium.
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“To every single American who shares our convictions, I say to you, ‘join us, ‘ ” Pence said. Because I’m an outsider. Christie a placater. Trump has been indecisive and scattered, preoccupied with the show-business end of the job but not the attributes required for a person to potentially govern. He praised Pence’s track record leading the Hoosier State as the nation struggled in the aftermath of the great recession. “No matter where you look”, Trump said. He spoke of values and presented images of his own development with a “front row seat to the American Dream” and “a cornfield in the backyard”. “I’m a Christian, a conservative and Republican, in that order”. The billionaire took the stage just after 11am and delivered a almost half-hour-long, stream-of-consciousness monologue.
Trump and Pence are scheduled to make their first joint appearance Saturday morning in NY.
Yet getting to that moment of party unity was chaotic, with numerous twists and turns playing out in public – and not in a way the spotlight-seeking Trump prefers. Trump released a logo Friday afternoon but it received some amusing reactions on social media, with many saying the logo was sexually suggestive.
Pence, 57, comes from a different wing of the divided Republican Party than Trump, one that is dominated by evangelicals in southern and midwestern states.
Donald Trump on Saturday introduced his pick for vice president Mike Pence as a “solid” man and a unifying figure among Republicans in their first public appearance on a joint ticket for the White House.
In 2015 he provoked a national backlash after signing a law that critics said would have allowed businesses to deny service to gay people for religious reasons. Out of control. After four years of (Hillary) Clinton, who really led the way and led (Barack) Obama down a frightful path, because I don’t even think he could have made these decisions so badly, she led him right down a disgusting path. Pence seemed mindful of reassuring voters about Trump’s character.
On its own, the muddled lead-up to Saturday’s announcement is unlikely to impact Trump’s standing in his general election fight with Democrat Hillary Clinton. The interview introduced or reintroduced Pence to conservatives, while showcasing all of the reasons why Trump’s campaign chief, Paul Manafort, was pushing for his boss to pick Pence. “Always Divisive. Not so Decisive”.
Saturday’s campaign event capped a typically wild and unpredictable selection process.
Trump also addressed the deadly terroristattack in Nice, France that occurred Thursday night.
But then he announced the choice of Pence on Friday morning anyway, on Twitter.
He was one of three finalists for the nomination, beating out Gov. Trump himself will not be in attendance, according to the campaign’s website.
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At one point in his rambling introduction, Trump stopped himself. Save for the comment that he received a phone call on Wednesday offering the VP position, a statement that ran contra to the narrative as reported, it was entirely forgettable. And then he continued talking several minutes more before calling his running mate to the stage.
