Trump makes it official: Indiana Gov. Pence is his VP pick

Donald Trump has chosen Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his running mate, adding political experience and conservative bona fides to his Republican presidential ticket. Trump announced his decision on Twitter Friday morning, capping a frenzied 24 hours of speculation about his choice.

A news conference was set for Saturday for the two men who will take on Hillary Clinton and her Democratic running mate in November.

Trump offered the vice presidential spot to Pence Thursday, and the governor boarded a plane for New York in anticipation of a Friday announcement, according to a Republican with knowledge of the process. But shortly after Pence arrived, Trump abruptly said he was postponing an announcement because of the deadly attack in Nice, France, that left more than 80 people dead.

Trump had originally planned to announce his running mate on Friday. But he delayed the announcement because of the attacks in Nice, France, late Thursday.

Pence had already flown to New York before Trump announced the postponement.

Trump’s announcement came about an hour before a deadline for Pence to withdraw from his re-election race in Indiana. State law prohibits candidates from being on the ballot in two races.

One of the governor’s aides filed the paperwork with the Indiana Secretary of State’s office a few minutes after Trump announced that Pence would join him on the Republican ticket.

Trump’s hectic decision-making process was made more complicated by the fact that the businessman was in California Thursday for a series of fundraisers, isolated from nearly all of his closest advisers, including his three adult children and his campaign chairman, Paul Manafort.

Frustration among Trump and his advisers mounted because of news reports that Pence was the pick, sending top aides scrambling to insist no final decision had been made.

The billionaire said in a series of television interviews Thursday night that he’d not yet settled on a “final, final” choice, leaving open the possibility the unpredictable presumptive nominee could change his mind.

But Manafort dismissed suggestions in an interview on Fox News Channel that Trump was having second thoughts about his choice. He said Trump was planning on making an announcement this weekend.

Trump’s choice of Pence as his running mate adds political experience – and a dose of unflappability – to the Republican presidential ticket.

Pence would be a reliably conservative No. 2 with a calm demeanor and deep ties to Washington. His apparent selection signals Trump is serious about addressing GOP concerns about his own conservative credentials and lack of Washington experience.

Trump also seriously considered offering the running mate post to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, according to people familiar with the process.

In a brief interview with The Associated Press Friday morning, Gingrich said he had still not been told by Trump that he would not be the choice.

Trump was up against a clock in unveiling his pick. In addition to Pence’s deadline in Indiana, the Republican convention kicks off in Cleveland Monday.

Top party officials are already in Cleveland, where a committee voted late Thursday to rebuff a push to let delegates vote for any presidential candidate they’d like. It was a major blow to Republican foes of Trump who have been working to try to thwart his nomination.

Pence would have the backing of GOP leaders and ease some of their concerns about Trump’s political inexperience and volatile temperament.

Pence also has influential allies in Trump’s inner circle. But some of Trump’s children, who have been closely advising their father, were said to favor different candidates.

Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign says Trump has “doubled down” on what the Clinton team calls his “disturbing beliefs” by choosing Pence as his running mate.

Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta says Pence is “an incredibly divisive and unpopular figure.”

Podesta says Pence is known for supporting what Podesta calls “discriminatory politics and failed economic policies that favor millionaires and corporations over working families.”

Clinton’s campaign says Pence was an early advocate for the tea party in Congress – and as governor, pushed a law that discriminated against gays and lesbians and alienated businesses in Indiana.

The Clinton team notes Pence led the fight to defund Planned Parenthood and restrict abortion rights and has opposed raising the federal minimum wage.

This story was originally published July 15, 2016 at 10:04 AM with the headline "Trump makes it official: Indiana Gov. Pence is his VP pick."