Low-key Trump intro for ‘my partner,’ running mate Pence

Pence – who spoke after more than 25 minutes of remarks from Trump in which he talked more about himself than his new running mate – described himself as he frequently does, as “a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican — in that order”.

The joint appearance was meant to catapult the party toward a successful and unified Republican National Convention, which kicks off in Cleveland on Monday.

Conspicuously, the four-day political jamboree will feature no former presidents, few party luminaries and only a smattering of elected officials. A voracious consumer of news, Trump fumed as he watched television reports declaring he had settled on Pence before he’d made a call to the governor. One logo showed the T in the Trump’s name penetrating the P in Pence’s name, leading to many ribald comments about how exactly the ticket would pan out.

During his speech, Pence discussed his views on foreign policy during President Barack Obama’s administration.

To see if they meshed, Trump had dinner with Pence and his wife this week in Indiana. “I am especially glad that Mike Pence will be in the Oval Office offering wise counsel when it comes to the next justices for the Supreme Court who will shape this country for generations to come”.

Donald Trump introduced his choice of vice presidential candidate by offering a narrative about his experience with Pence. Trump conceded that one of the reasons he’d selected Pence was to promote unity within the Republican Party, left deeply fractured by Trump’s ascent.

So, too, did the actual announcement event on Saturday, at which Trump meandered for almost a half hour on a variety of topics – including an update on the construction of his new hotel in Washington – before finally calling Pence to the stage, only to then immediately walk away. “And it does. IN works because Republican principles work every time you put them into practice”, Pence said.

Gov. Susana Martinez of New Mexico would have been another obvious plus for Trump, who can use all the help he can get with both women and Latinos.

While Pence as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives voted to go to war with Iraq and supported a bevy of free trade deals, Trump highlighted his opposition to both. Christie was said to be a better fit for Trump, but his previous prosecution of Charles Kushner, father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who has become a close Trump confidant, tore at Trump’s family loyalties.

The Indiana governor repeatedly called the NY real estate mogul a “good man”, said he was “grateful” for him and praised him as a “fighter” and “builder” who “set aside a legendary career in business” to run.

By contrast, Mr Pence gave a far more conventional speech, sticking to his script and delivering a measured message of support for Donald Trump. “And they got crushed immediately, because people want what we’re saying to happen”.

Trump also jabbed lightly at Pence for not endorsing him during the Indiana Republican primary contest.

Clinton’s team was already painting Pence’s conservative social viewpoints as out of step with the mainstream.

Clinton’s campaign released a web video early Saturday highlighting the campaign’s mixed signals and Trump’s contradictory statements about where he was in the selection process in the lead-up to his announcement Friday morning of Indiana Gov. Mike Pence.