Media reported Thursday indications that Indiana Gov. Mike Pence will be Donald Trump’s pick for a vice presidential candidate.
The Drudge Report posted: “Trump/Pence rollout in Manhattan Friday morning,” “Hannity Foxnews VP interview Friday nite” and “First joint TV interview with CBS 60 Mins Leslie Stahl Sunday.”
The Indianapolis Star reported Pence is dropping his re-election bid in Indiana to become Trump’s running mate.
And the New York Times said Trump’s campaign has “signaled strongly” to Republicans in Washington that he will pick Pence, “though Republicans caution the party’s mercurial presidential candidate may still backtrack on his apparent choice.”
The official announcement is scheduled for Friday.
WND reported three days ago political insiders said Pence is the most likely VP candidate, with sources close to Trump and Pence saying there’s a “95 percent probability” the Indiana governor is going to be the pick.
At the time, National Review cited several Pence allies saying he will accept the nomination if it is offered to him.
National Review described him as “the man who led the principle conservative opposition to George W. Bush in Congress; who has long claimed to be ‘a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order’; and whom the New York Times in 2006 dubbed ‘the perfect conservative,’ the willingness to embrace Trump has come as a surprise to many.'”
CNN, citing a source, reported Pence was told late Wednesday Trump “is moving toward” choosing him.
The Indianapolis Star said that in Pence, Trump “has added a social conservative who GOP strategists say will reassure rank-and-file Republicans that Trump can be trusted to pursue their interests.”
“Veteran political observers say Pence, a former U.S. House member and chairman of the House Republican Conference, will provide a disciplined counter to Trump’s improvisational campaign style. Pence also brings fundraising power and credibility on a wide range of policy issues that are important to conservatives.”
The paper then speculated on a replacement in the governor’s race in the state for the GOP.
“For the first time in state history, the Indiana Republican State Committee will determine the GOP candidate for governor in a process that could last into August. The 22-member panel has 30 days from the date Pence officially withdraws his candidacy to choose Pence’s replacement on the ballot.”
At the Times, “Mr. Trump’s advisers” were reported to have said “that they are preparing to make an announcement with Mr. Pence, according to three people with knowledge of the conversations, who were not authorized to discuss them publicly. His campaign has said that it will unveil a running mate for Mr. Trump in New York on Friday.”
The Times said Pence emerged as the strong favorite over recent days.
“Trump himself has sent conflicting signals in recent days, as he has subjected his potential running mates to a final round of screening. He addressed a rally in Indiana alongside Mr. Pence on Tuesday night and met privately with him several times.
“On Wednesday, Mr. Trump and his children threw together a hasty series of conversations with other finalists in the vice-presidential search, including Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama and Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker,” the Times said.
But Paul Manafort, chairman of Trump’s campaign, told the newspaper the campaign had not notified anyone of a final decision.
