Mike Pence (AP/Michael Conroy)
Trump is scheduled to announce his running mate on Friday, and reports indicate that Indiana Governor Mike Pence is his final choice.
Contenders for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump reportedly include, among others, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Indiana Governor Mike Pence.
The Indianapolis Star says it has “confirmed that Trump plans to announce Pence as his selection for vice president, ending a weeks-long vice presidential casting call during which Trump vetted a handful of high-profile Republicans.” Trump’s national campaign spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, however, said “a decision has not been made,” the Star continued.
Pence quickly exited a speaking event in Indianapolis Thursday morning without taking questions from reporters. His staff had not released details of any other planned appearances Thursday.
Pence is running for re-election, but Indiana law prevents him from seeking two offices at once. He faces a Friday deadline to withdraw from the governor’s race.
All three of the finalists have had extensive conversations with Trump and his family in recent days.
Trump and his new running mate will make their first appearance as a team Friday in New York. The timing is aimed at energizing Republicans ahead of next week’s Republican convention in Cleveland.
Trump, a political novice, has said for weeks that he wanted a running mate who could help him work with Congress.
Pence, 57, is a steady, staunch conservative who would help calm nervous Republicans wary of Trump’s impulsive style. He served six terms in Congress before becoming Indiana governor. He also has deep ties to evangelical Christians and other conservatives.
In picking Pence, Trump “would be going with his head rather than his heart,” the Wall Street Journal opined, saying Pence is “low-key and controlled, providing a kind of ballast that some Republicans think Trump needs to counter his provocative, unpredictable style.”
By: AP and World Israel News Staff
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