Trump announces Pence as his vice presidential running mate

[ WASHINGTON] Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump announced Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his vice presidential running mate on Friday, after postponing an event on his decision following the deadly truck attack in France.

Republican sources had said on Thursday that Trump had decided on Pence, but the campaign had not confirmed this until now.

Viewed as a safe pair of hands, Mr Pence, 57, has diverging views with Trump on his proposed Muslim ban and trade, and is more socially conservative, but he could help unify a divided party behind Mr Trump's bid to win the White House in the Nov 8 election. "I am pleased to announce that I have chosen Governor Mike Pence as my Vice Presidential running mate. News conference tomorrow at 11.00 am," Mr Trump said in a tweet.

Mr Trump had faced a midday deadline to announce Mr Pence because the governor had to declare by then whether he would be on the ballot in his home state for re-election.

Mr Trump, a New York businessman who has never held elected office, had chosen Mr Pence from a short list that included two other finalists, former House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

REUTERS