IN-GOV: Which Republican replaces Mike Pence if he is selected as Trump's VP?

[libertpaulian]

If Pence is picked as the VP and a decent choice is selected, the Dems should forego this race and pour all of their resources into North Carolina.  That will be the YUGE governor's race and the real test to see if social conservatism can be defeated in the South.

[libertpaulian]

Greg Ballard, unless he's taking on Donnelly in two years.

Ballard would be disastrous.  All the IN Dems would need to do is keep running ads showing how crime went up in Indy during his tenure as mayor.

[libertpaulian]

Greg Ballard, unless he's taking on Donnelly in two years.

Ballard would be disastrous.  All the IN Dems would need to do is keep running ads showing how crime went up in Indy during his tenure as mayor.

I thought he was very popular and successful?

He was successful and popular in many ways, yes.  However, crime was his major Achilles Heel.  

If law and order becomes one of the Trump campaign's major themes post-convention, the Democrats could turn that around here in Indiana by claiming that Ballard didn't live up to that theme due to the city having record numbers of murders during Ballard's second term.

[libertpaulian]

To be quite honest, assuming Pence is picked as the VP, I think the Indiana Democrats should forego this race and rest on their laurels until 2024 (meaning in 2020 they will run a purely token opposition candidate).  Mayor Hogsett will have completed his second term by then, and assuming Indianapolis' crime problem is under control and the city is running excellently (it should be), he would be a top-tier pick for the Democrats and would be a force to be contended with.  Hell, I'd consider voting for Hogsett for Governor if he proves to be an effective mayor.