Mike Pence as VP pick

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

I considered Pence as a good pick for Trump since day 1. He helped somewhat him out with the religious right and didn't embarrass the ticket.

[mencken]

Mike Pence and Carly Fiorina were both great at helping Trump win Indiana by ~18 points.

[Lincoln Republican]

One of the very best Vice Presidential picks in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Is fully capable of carrying out the responsibilities of the Presidency should that become necessary.

[Meclazine for Israel]

He is probably half a chance of taking on the top job if something brings Trump to impeachment.

[Ljube]

One of the very best Vice Presidential picks in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Is fully capable of carrying out the responsibilities of the Presidency should that become necessary.

Evidence of Trump's good judgement.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

One of the very best Vice Presidential picks in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Is fully capable of carrying out the responsibilities of the Presidency should that become necessary.

Winfield's steady evolution into a religious right/Tea Party hack is amusing.

[Fuzzy Bear]

I wondered if this pick was going to work when Trump made it, but it was the best decision of the campaign he made.

Pence enabled Trump to unify the party enough to win.  He also came off as both loyal and as his own man at the same time, no small feat with Donald Trump.

Pence also came to be seen (by me, at least) as a man Trump actually respects and thinks highly of.  This is important, given Trump's contempt for so many politicians.  Pence enhanced Trump's image of thoughtfulness and reasonableness when it was needed.  He comes across as a guy who'll give Trump the bad news he needs to listen to, and that's important.  I think people sensed this as well.  Loyalty is important, but folks will naturally balk at a candidate who has nothing but flunkies around him.  Pence was a key to neutralizing that perception.

[sg0508]

I think he was underrated in getting conservatives to the polls.  No, I don't think he would be a good President, and he would be a horror show for the left if it came to that, but in terms of getting Trump elected, he was a wildcard.  See my post about Kaine...I thought he was a total BUST.  Trump's pick was certainly stronger in terms of the electability of the ticket and firing people up to vote than Hillary's pick was in Kaine.

[Mister Mets]

I think he worked really well.

He avoided making any serious gaffes on the campaign trail. He won the Vice presidential debate.

His resume was impressive enough that it got other Republicans on board, and helped bring some unity.

The main reason Trump went with Pence is that greater talents said no (Kasich, Portman, Corker) but it did work well for him.

[iratemoderate]

Strategically, it seems to have paid off.

That being said, Trump did himself no favors with moderates with this pick, but in these polarized times, it probably did not matter all too much. Especially since so many people failed to see behind the bravado and actually examine Trump's policy positions as they were.

Pence is also extremely weak on immigration—which did him no favors with those of us who also care about the integrity of our borders and the rule of law.

And his Bush-ite positions on foreign policy were very disturbing.