Trump announces Pence will be his running mate -- discussion thread

[CactusJack]

Safe pick. Meh choice. It won't hurt or help him. He doesn't come from a state that Trump can pick off either and use a hometown VP bump

Gingrich is 73. Not an interesting new name, outspoken himself and has already been tarred and feathered. If Trump wins he could be Trumps Chief of Staff or something for a few years, but he would not have been a good VP choice

Christie is outspoken himself, and the media has already torn him down, calling him a lackey because he had the audacity to stand there near Trump while Donald gave a speech (He looks like he's a hostage hyuck hyuck!)  Plus he's overweight and his 15 minutes of fame as the GOP golden boy ended with his post Hurricane Sandy hug of Obama.

Pence is solid, but I think Trump could've found someone just as solid who at least provides a little bit of excitement. But overall he checks off plenty of boxes. Against Syrian Muslim resettlement in Indiana, when it comes to LGBT stuff he's well liked by the Christian right (Religious Freedom Restoration Act) he's anti Obamacare...

[CactusJack]

when push came to shove Pence opposed Syrian Muslim resettlement in Indiana.

[CactusJack]

heh. The liberal wackos at Buzzfeed were ready for Pence. I can just see Rachel Madcow, doing her usual bated breath routine, jabbing her pen at the camera, hard stop after each word.

"Do you hear that America? Mike....Pence...doesn't think...smoking...is harmful"

Anyway...smoking doesn't kill? ugh. That's such a mind numbingly stupid thing for Pence to say.

[CactusJack]

Pence did endorse Cruz, but remember it was that incredibly half hearted endorsement that the media said sounded like he was really endorsing Trump.

Pence will likely not deliver any of the Midwest to Trump. Trump can win Ohio but he would win it without Pence.

Where Pence may help is to churn out the Evangelicals and social conservatives that were fanatically loyal to Bush in 2000 and 2004. Pence helps Trump in Virginia and North Carolina and Northern Florida more than he does in Wisconsin and Michigan

[CactusJack]

They are? (did you post a link? I see it broken) Honestly I had no idea, just made an assumption. I never thought the Evangelicals were too hot on Trump because his public image, past divorces...it just doesn't look like a person they'd trust.

[CactusJack]

A better pick than Gingrich, but it's hilarious how far down the totem pole of choices he had to go to find someone who would be his running mate.

How do you know how far down? Pence is a Republican Governor. That's not too far down.

I do like the folks who shouted from the rooftops that they would never be Trumps VP who were never asked and never considered.

Did you hear Jeb Bush and Lindsey Graham also said no!

[CactusJack]

Anyone else think this is a big fake out?

Pence is just a really bad choice

Well Christie is worse and Newt isn't much better.

Pence cant even speak well......  Christie is bad but at least he can talk competently

He speaks quite well and has handled himself well at every TV interview or podium event that I've watched.

Trump was not going to pick some stammering buffoon as his VP. Pence isn't Mr. Excitement but he's not exactly Al Gore circa 1992 bore either. Gingrich or Christie could've hurt him. But a Pence choice will at worst have no impact.