Trump picks Pence as VP

by TheHill.com - 07/14/16 12:47 PM ET

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is Donald Trump’s vice presidential pick, according to multiple media outlets.

Trump campaign aides on Twitter said the presumptive GOP presidential nominee has yet to make a decision, but separate media reports said the conservative governor has emerged as Trump’s choice.

{mosads}Pence had been on a final shortlist for the spot along with former Speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.) and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, according to Trump. He was also the overwhelming favorite of GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

Roll Call first reported that Pence was Trump’s pick, citing a source with direct knowledge of the decision.

CBS‘s Major Garrett also reported that Pence would get the nod from Trump, and The Indianapolis Star confirmed the news a bit later.

In picking Pence, Trump is selecting a candidate who could improve his conservative bona fides and help appeal to the party’s base.

Pence is a former House GOP leader who served in the chamber from 2001 to 2013.

He would fit Trump’s need for someone who could work with Congress from the executive branch, and he would also do much to shore up Trump’s relationships with social conservatives and GOP officials.

“What he needs is someone who is credible who can help him govern if he is successful,” Senate Republican Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) told The Hill earlier this week. “There’s nobody with more interesting ideas in Washington than Newt Gingrich, but that’s a different issue than actually governing day-to-day. I don’t see that as his strong suit.”

Minutes before the Pence news broke, Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) offered praise for his former House colleague, though he said he had no idea whom Trump would choose.

“It’s no secret. I’m a big fan of Mike Pence’s. We’re very good friends. I have very high regard for him,” Ryan told reporters at his weekly news briefing. “I hope that he picks a good movement conservative. Clearly Mike is one of those.”

Trump’s campaign has been seeking to build toward a Friday announcement, and aides downplayed reports that Trump had selected Pence.

Re: @realDonaldTrump VP selection, a decision will be made in the near future and the announcement will be tomorrow at 11am in New York.

— Paul Manafort (@PaulManafort) July 14, 2016

1/2 A decision has not been made by Mr. Trump. He will be making a decision in the future…

— Jason Miller (@JasonMillerinDC) July 14, 2016

2/2 …and will be announcing his Vice Presidential pick tomorrow at 11am as planned.

— Jason Miller (@JasonMillerinDC) July 14, 2016

Pence is a proven fundraiser with deep ties to the billionaire GOP donors Charles and David Koch, and he hails from a Rust Belt battleground state, in a region that might represent Trump’s likeliest path to the White House.

Last year, controversy exploded in Indiana over a religious freedom law Pence signed that critics said legalized discrimination against gays and lesbians.

Pence is widely viewed to have bungled the controversy. After infuriating the left for signing the bill into law, he infuriated the right by calling for changes that stripped some of the strongest language from it.

Pence is in the middle of a tight race for reelection as Indiana governor against Democrat John Gregg.

He will have to officially withdraw from that contest by noon Friday to be Trump’s running mate.

Scott Wong, Jonathan Easley and Alexander Bolton contributed.