Trump to pick Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as running mate: reports

SHARE Trump to pick Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as running mate: reports
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Indiana Gov. Mike Pence joins Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at a rally in Westfield, Ind., on Tuesday. | Michael Conroy/Associated Press

Several media outlets are reporting that presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump will pick Indiana Gov. Mike Pence to run for vice president.

The Indianapolis Star reported Thursday morning that it had confirmed Pence was the choice, though a Trump campaign spokeswoman also told the newspaper the selection had not been made.

WTTV, the CBS affiliate in Indianapolis, also reported the selection, saying it had been confirmed by Trump’s Indiana chairman, Rex Early, a former Indiana GOP chairman. Other Indianapolis media outlets posted similar reports.

Roll Call, which covers Capitol Hill, likewise reported the choice, citing an anonymous source. The New York Times and Washington Post were reporting that allies to Trump and Pence were signaling that Pence was the “likely” pick.

According to the Associated Press, Trump was “on the verge” of making a selection and though the official announcement had been set for Friday morning in Manhattan, it said top contenders had been told to expect a decision as early as Thursday afternoon.

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Also on Trump’s shortlist: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, according to people familiar with the candidate’s thinking.

Pence quickly exited a speaking event in Indianapolis Thursday morning without taking questions from reporters. His staff has not released details of any other planned appearances Thursday.

Pence has been in a contentious re-election campaign and would have until noon Friday to withdraw his name as a candidate for governor since state law prevents him from seeking two offices at once. Trump’s official announcement is planned for 11 a.m. Friday.

All three of the finalists have had extensive conversations with Trump and his family in recent days.

Gingrich told The Associated Press he was expecting to hear from Trump one way or the other sometime after 1 p.m. The former Georgia congressman praised Trump for running a “very fair, open process” and said he looked forward to learning the businessman’s decision.

Gingrich later posted on Facebook that he would hold a live chat at 2 p.m. about the “vice presidential picks and the VP selection process.”

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.

Shortly after noon, Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort wrote on Twitter that the decision “will be made in the near future.”

Each of Trump’s top contenders would add significant political experience to the GOP ticket. Trump, a political novice, has said for weeks that he wanted a running mate who could help him work with Congress.

Beyond their political backgrounds, the finalists bring different strengths to the ticket.

Pence, 57, is seen by some as a steady, staunch conservative who would help calm nervous Republican 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, particularly after signing a law last year that critics said would have allowed businesses to deny service to gay people for religious reasons.

Trump took notice of Pence during the Indiana primary, noting that the governor had high praise for him despite endorsing one of his rivals.

Gingrich is a boisterous rabble-rouser who has spent decades in Washington and helped define the political battles of the 1990s. The 73-year-old would be the oldest candidate ever to become vice president.

Gingrich has been a steadfast Trump defender for months and has become a trusted adviser to the businessman.

So, too, has Christie. The New Jersey governor quickly endorsed Trump after ending his own presidential bid, stunning many of his supporters.

A former U.S. attorney, Christie, 53, is widely seen as one of his party’s most talented retail politicians and has proven himself a biting attack dog on the trail. He’s also become a valuable partner for Trump, joining him at events on the trail and taking on the important role of heading Trump’s transition planning.

Associated Press writers Julie Pace at the White House and Brian Slodysko in Indianapolis contributed to this report.

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