Pols, voters react after Trump officially selects Mike Pence as running mate

WLS logo
Friday, July 15, 2016
Trump Pence
Donald Trump made it official today, tweeting that Indiana Governor Mike Pence will be his running-mate.

Donald Trump made it official today, tweeting that Indiana Governor Mike Pence will be his running-mate.

An aide to Pence filed paperwork in Indianapolis late Friday morning officially ending the governor's home state re-election campaign. Shortly thereafter, Pence tweeted that he would run for vice president.

After meeting with Donald Trump Friday morning, Pence said he was grateful and humbled to run for vice president on the Republican ticket.

"We love Indiana," Pence said. "We love our country. My family and I couldn't be more honored."

The former five-term U.S. congressman, elected Indiana governor in 2012, is an avowed Christian. In Washington, he sponsored several bills to defund Planned Parenthood and is considered a champion by the anti-abortion movement.

"We know that Mike Pence really cares about this issue. The issue of the right to life of the unborn child," Eric Scheidler, with the Pro-Life Action League, said.

"Nothing but good can come from his presence in a Trump administration."

Pence signed Indiana's religious freedom restoration act that was mostly rescinded after LGBT groups called it a veiled attempt to legalize discrimination.

"To have him as a candidate is very troubling," Kim Hunt, with Pride Action Tank, said.

Eighteen months ago, Pence reminded an audience here that his parents grew up on Chicago's South Side.

"My grandfather got off a boat on Ellis Island in 1923, caught a train to Chicago and drove a bus here for about 40 years," he said.

The 57-year-old Indiana University law school graduate is known for calm demeanor in contrast to ticket-topper Trump. Illinois Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, a strong Hillary Clinton supporter, expects a tough general election race.

"The fact that he has government experience, he will be an addition to the Trump ticket," Durbin said. "We're taking this race very seriously on the Democratic side."

Trump and Governor Pence will make a formal announcement Saturday morning in New York City. Meanwhile, back in Indiana, the scramble is on. Republicans there have 30 days to replace Pence on the state-wide ballot for governor.