White House candidate Trump picks Indiana Gov Pence for running mate: source

[WASHINGTON] Republican Donald Trump told Republican officials on Thursday he has picked Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his vice presidential running mate, a Republican source said, choosing a conservative with the potential to unify divided Republicans.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee is to announce his choice on Friday at 11 am (1500 GMT) in Manhattan.

Mr Trump told national Republican officials that he had settled on Mr Pence, according to the Republican source, who is familiar with the campaign's operations.

Sources had told Reuters earlier that Mr Trump had been leaning toward Mr Pence but cautioned that he could still change his mind.

Mr Trump is to be formally nominated as the party's candidate for the Nov 8 election at the Republican National Convention next week in Cleveland. Traditionally, the vice presidential choice is used to build enthusiasm among party loyalists.

Mr Trump's choice of running mate is seen as critical because his defeat of 16 rivals in the Republican primary race left the party divided and some party leaders are still uneasy about some of his campaign positions, and his style.

Roll Call, which first reported the news, said Mr Trump was reportedly impressed with Mr Pence's calm demeanor, his experience on Capitol Hill and as a governor, and Mr Pence's potential to assist in governing if Mr Trump wins in November. Mr Trump, a New York businessman, has never held elected office.

Mr Trump had also considered former House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich, 73, and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, 53, as finalists.

Mr Gingrich told an ABC News correspondent earlier that he expected to hear Mr Trump's decision after 1 pm EDT (1700 GMT) and would not be surprised if Mr Trump chose Mr Pence.

Mr Pence, 57, a former congressman, is seen as a safe choice, not too flashy but popular among conservatives, with Midwestern appeal and the ability to rally more party faithful behind Mr Trump.

Mr Pence also could give a boost to Mr Trump's campaign fundraising efforts. The governor has strong ties to billionaire donors Charles and David Koch, including current and former staff members who have worked for them.

Mr Pence is to the right of Mr Trump on social issues, signing restrictive abortion legislation and pushing to defund the Planned Parenthood women's healthcare organisation. Mr Trump has said he opposes abortion, but his views have been inconsistent, and he has said Planned Parenthood provides some valuable services.

Mr Pence also criticised Mr Trump's proposal to ban Muslims from entering the country. And in 2006, he introduced immigration legislation that would let illegal immigrants apply for US work visas if they left the country for a period, a plan that was criticised by some conservatives.

Mr Pence and Mr Trump met on Wednesday at the governor's residence in Indianapolis. They were joined by members of Mr Trump's family.

Mr Pence had backed a Trump rival, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, in April before the Indiana primary, but he praised Mr Trump and said he would work on behalf of the eventual Republican nominee. Mr Trump won Indiana anyway, prompting Mr Cruz to drop out of the race to be the party's nominee.

Mr Pence had considered running for president himself in 2016 before deciding to run for re-election as governor. Conservatives had urged him to seek the White House, but missteps last year related to an Indiana law seen as anti-gay hurt his national profile.

This year, he was the target of a mocking social media campaign by women outraged at a law he signed creating new restrictions on abortions. Feeling that the law invaded their privacy, women responded by calling Mr Pence's office to describe their menstrual periods or tweeting similar messages.

Mr Pence ran unsuccessfully for Congress twice before he won election to the House of Representatives in 2000, where he was chairman of the Republican Study Committee, a group of conservatives.

In what has been an unusually public process of making his choice of running mate, Mr Trump, 70, sat down with both Mr Pence and Mr Gingrich separately in Indianapolis on Wednesday.

He also met with a fourth potential No 2, US Senator Jeff Sessions, 69, of Alabama, who has been one of Mr Trump's closest advisers.

Mr Trump had dinner with Mr Pence on Tuesday night after they appeared together at a rally. Joined by daughter Ivanka and sons Donald Jr and Eric Trump, Mr Trump also had breakfast with Mr Pence and his wife, Karen, on Wednesday at the governor's residence in Indianapolis.

Mr Trump adviser Ed Brookover told CNN that Mr Trump "first and foremost" wants a running mate who he has good chemistry with and someone who can help him govern best.

REUTERS