Being Trump's VP Would Make Sense for Pence

For one thing, it gets him out of a tough re-election fight
By Newser Editors,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 11, 2016 1:58 PM CDT
Being Trump's VP Would Make Sense for Pence
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, left, and Donald Trump.   (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, David Zalubowski)

People who bet money on such things say Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is the big favorite to be Donald Trump's running mate, reports MarketWatch. And Pence will be with Trump Tuesday at a campaign stop in the state, notes the Indianapolis Star. At the National Review, Eliana Johnson gets why Trump would love to have Pence on his ticket—the governor is a true conservative, and that would help Trump shore up support with those on the right who don't trust him. But why would Pence be on board? Johnson talks to his confidantes and susses out three main reasons: win or lose, it puts Pence in a stronger position to run for the White House himself down the road; if he joins the ticket, it removes him from a tight re-election contest and a potentially devastating defeat; and he sees it as his civic duty to try to keep Hillary Clinton out of the White House.

“He would obviously be a favorite for a future presidential campaign after Trump has been president, and that’s unusual for somebody who didn’t run himself in what was a very crowded and talented field this year,” says Trump pollster Kellyanne Conway, who is also described as a longtime consultant to the governor. Pence has long had his eye on the White House, writes Johnson, and while the Evangelical Catholic may be far to the right of Trump, he sees Trump as a much better alternative than Clinton. We might know soon: Friday is the deadline for Pence to remove his name from the ballot in the Indiana governor's race, notes Johnson. Click for her full column. (More Mike Pence stories.)

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