Trump likely to pick Mike Pence as his running mate

Fox News says it is suspending i…

Christie, a former presidential candidate who became one of the first “establishment Republicans” to endorse Trump, has been advising the NY businessman on the running mate selection, but is also considered a contender himself.

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R) introduces Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump during a rally at the Sharonville Convention Center July 6, 2016, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has reportedly selected Indiana Gov. Mike Pence to serve as his vice presidential running mate, sources told the Indianapolis Star Thursday.

A Republican official in touch with Pence’s associates said Thursday morning that Pence told those associates he was convinced he was going to be the pick after his Wednesday meeting with Trump.

With Pence taking on Trump’s call to be his vice president, he will have to shut down his re-election run for Indiana’s governor; state law won’t let Pence run for both offices. Joined by daughter Ivanka and sons Donald Jr. and Eric Trump, Trump also had breakfast with Pence and his wife, Karen, on Wednesday at the governor’s residence in Indianapolis.

It also released poll results that said almost nine out of 10 Americans said they “are undecided or don’t know enough about” Pence to offer any opinion on him. However, the documents have not been filed, according to the Republican, who insisted on anonymity because that person was not authorized to publicly discuss Pence’s plans.

Trump is spending the day in California, attending fundraisers in the Los Angeles area while his potential running mates awaited word on the other coast. John McCain’s 2008 campaign, told NJ Advance Media that the fact that Pence is the only VP hopeful not to be announced as speaking at the Republican National Convention this week was a likely sign that Pence could be the pick.

Two others believed to be on Trump’s short list, Sen.

The governor, a former radio talk show host, is a favorite among conservatives and a friend of Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. Last year, he signed a bill into law that would have allowed IN businesses to deny service to LGBTQ individuals based on religious objections to homosexuality and/or gay marriage.

Electorally, Pence doesn’t bring much to the table, though he may marginally improve Trump’s standing (1) among conservatives, especially evangelicals and (2) in Indiana.

Gingrich is a boisterous rabble-rouser who has spent decades in Washington and helped define the political battles of the 1990s. I’m two years older than Trump and Pence is 20 years younger than me.