Potential Pence Pick on Pause, But a ‘Compliment to Indiana’
The director of the Mike Downs Center For Indiana Politics in Fort Wayne says, regardless of what Hoosiers think of Governor Mike Pence, his expected selection as Donald Trump’s running mate is "something the state should be celebrating." Andy Downs says the selection is an indication that Indiana’s momentum is a story that "national people have taken note of." Because of a terrorist attack in France, Trump has postponed the official announcement of his running mate, which was previously scheduled for 11:00 this morning in New York City.
Downs says, if Pence is selected, Hoosiers can expect very different races throughout the Indiana ballot. That begins in the governor’s race, where he says, "a chunk of the John Gregg campaign is, ‘I’m not Mike Pence.’" He says the tone of the race moving forward will depend heavily on if the eventual Republican candidate can "have RFRA hung around their neck."
The Indiana Republican Select Committee would have 30 days after Pence filed his paperwork to leave the race to nominate a replacement. Rumored candidates include Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma (R-88), Congressman Todd Rokita (R-4), Congresswoman Susan Brooks and Lieutenant Governor Eric Holcomb.
On Thursday, Roll Call and The Wall Street Journal reported Trump would choose Pence, citing Republican sources.
Mike Downs Center For Indiana Politics Director Andy Downs says “I think we have to expect a very different governor’s race now.”