Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Friday, July 15, 2016
(NEW YORK) - Donald Trump said Friday Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is his choice to be his running mate.
"I am pleased to announce that I have chosen Governor Mike Pence as my Vice Presidential running mate. News conference tomorrow at 11:00 A.M.," the presumptive Republican nominee tweeted.
CNN reported Thursday that Trump had called Pence and offered him the vice presidential slot on his ticket. Pence has accepted.
Pence took to Twitter shortly after the announcement, saying, "Honored to join @realDonaldTrump and work to make America great again," and the campaign debut a new logo featuring both names.
Pence's lawyer filed paperwork with the Indiana secretary of state office officially removing him from the governor's race Friday morning.
The Saturday event is currently scheduled to take place in New York Hilton Midtown in Manhattan, the campaign announced, after earlier plans to hold the event in New Jersey.
Pence's selection gives Trump a running mate with strong ties to the Republican base -- particularly social conservatives. He was among the first Republicans to embrace the tea party on Capitol Hill. And as governor of Indiana, he faced major political backlash over his decision to sign into law a "religious freedom" measure that infuriated major businesses that saw it as anti-LGBT.
In tapping Pence, Trump adds to the GOP ticket a politician with ties to the Koch brothers and other influential donors who have so far stayed away from Trump.
Pence is seen as a safe political option for Trump, who also considered candidates who mirror his big personality such as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. But Pence made clear this week that he's more than willing to play the role of attack dog, strongly criticizing Hillary Clinton during a rally with Trump.
Clinton, Pence told the applauding crowd, "must never become president of the United States."
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