Trump picks Indiana's Pence as running mate

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Published: Sunday, 17 July 2016 21:22

INDIANAPOLIS — He’s hired. Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump announced Friday Gov. Mike Pence as his vice presidential running mate via Twitter, after weeks of speculation and recruiting.

“I am pleased to announce that I have chosen Governor Mike Pence as my Presidential running mate. News conference tomorrow at 11:00 A.M.,” Trump wrote in a tweet just before 11 a.m. Thursday.

Pence and Trump met numerous times this past week and held a rally together last Tuesday in Westfield.

“After seven and a half years of the failed politics of Barack Obama that weekend America’s place in the world and stifled our nation’s economy, we are ready for a change in this state,” Pence said as he introduced Trump Tuesday evening. “We’re ready to put a fighter, a builder and a patriot in the Oval Office of the United States of America.”

Pence took to Twitter shortly after the announcement, saying, “Honored to join [Trump] and work to make America great again.”

The campaign also quickly debuted a new logo featuring both Trump and Pence’s name.

Republicans across the state were pleased with Trump’s decision to pick Pence as his running mate.

“Mike Pence is an outstanding selection to serve as Donald Trump’s running mate,” Senate President Pro Temp David Long, R-Fort Wayne, said in a statement.  “As vice president, Mike will bring a much-needed dose of Hoosier common sense to Washington.

U.S. Senator Dan Coats said Pence is a proven leader with executive and legislative experience.

“As Indiana’s governor, he has continued our state’s remarkable economic progress and pushed for more effective, efficient government,” Coats said in a statement.

But Democrats were quick to judge Trump’s decision to choose Pence, with presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary calling him the most extreme pick in a generation. Clinton’s campaign issued a video attacking Pence on issues, including gay rights, immigration and women’s health.

The video ends with the message, “Donald Trump and Mike Pence: building a great, big, beautiful wall between America and progress.”

“Voter’s deserve better than more of their divisive policies and ‘me-first’ economic proposals,” said John Podesta, chair of Hillary for America, in a statement. “This new Trump-Pence ticket stands in dramatic contrast to Hillary Clinton’s vision of our future.”

Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Gregg wished Pence good luck but is interested in seeing how the Indiana race for governor will play out.

“This campaign has always been about Indiana’s future and who is best equipped to clean up the mess Mike Pence made,” Gregg said in a statement. “I look forward to hearing from my opponent if they’ll continue his damaging policies or join me working to correct them.”

Trump was initially scheduled to announce his running mate at a news conference Friday morning but postponed due to the tragedy in Nice, France. The news conference is now set to take place at the New York Hilton Midtown in Manhattan at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Article writer Adrianna Pitrelli is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.