Republican White House candidate Donald Trump on Friday formally
announced Mike Pence, the governor of Indiana, as his choice for vice
president, ending weeks of intense speculation and putting a conservative
stalwart on the ticket.
Pence, 57, only emerged on the short list in recent weeks,
after better-known party heavyweights including vanquished presidential
contenders like John Kasich or Ted Cruz either declined to be considered or
appeared to not make the cut.
In a whirlwind 72 hours before the announcement, Trump met
privately with Pence and his family, and also with two other men on the short
list: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former House speaker Newt
Gingrich. Pence brings all-important executive and legislative experience to
the ticket, which could assuage concerns among conservatives that Trump lacks
governing knowledge or the skills to navigate Congress.
"I am pleased to announce that I have chosen Governor
Mike Pence as my Vice Presidential running mate," Trump posted on Twitter.
The provocative billionaire scheduled a joint appearance with Pence in New York
on Saturday at 11:00 am (1500 GMT). 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.
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