Trump Names Mike Pence As Vice Presidential Running Mate

And, as NPR’s Jessica Taylor noted, 57-year-old Pence will “give Trump a younger, conservative favorite to help heal the rift within the Republican Party and ease the minds of many still skeptical of the presumptive presidential nominee”.

Pence brings political experience Trump has said he’s looking for to help him navigate Washington.

Trump had earlier stated he would publicly reveal his pick at a Friday press conference, but postponed it after Thursday’s truck attack in the French city of Nice that left at least 84 people dead.

USA presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump announced on Friday he had chosen Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate.

Donald Trump officially announced Pence as his VP choice Friday at 11 am.

“Mr. Trump’s selection of Gov. Mike Pence as his Vice President is an affirmation of the pro-life commitments he has made and will rally the pro-life grassroots”.

Shane Vander Hart, a conservative blogger and social media consultant who said he won’t vote for Trump, said the IN governor has been “wishy-washy” on religious liberty, as well as the Common Core education issue. Pence spent six years in Congress before being elected governor and his demeanor is as calm as Trump’s is fiery.

“As I’ve said in the past, I intend to support the ticket”, Rounds said Thursday.

Pence was to have been at a National Governors Association meeting in Des Moines this week, but as speculation swirled about whether he would be Trump’s pick, he did not make an appearance. He heaped praise on Pence and his other two finalists, former House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Pence was the favored choice of many Republican leaders, as well as some top advisers in Trump’s campaign, reflecting a desire to see the real estate mogul add a more traditional politician to the ticket.

Trump is also choosing a running mate who has been at odds with him on numerous policy positions.

Pence is expected to speak at the RNC convention next week in Cleveland. Pence also has been critical of Trump’s proposed temporary ban on foreign Muslims entering the United States, calling the idea “offensive and unconstitutional”.

Clinton’s campaign moved quickly to paint Pence as the “most extreme pick in a generation”. Trump’s formal announcement came about an hour before Pence’s noon Friday deadline for withdrawing.

“Great pick. @mike_pence is rock solid”, tweeted former 2016 presidential candidate Marco Rubio, a USA senator from Florida.