News / Politics

Trump picks Indiana governor as VP running mate

Friday, 15 July 2016 5:57 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 16 July 2016 3:55 AM ]

This AFP file photo taken on July 12, 2016 shows US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump (R) and Indiana Governor Mike Pence (L) taking the stage during a campaign rally at Grant Park Event Center in Westfield, Indiana.

Presumptive US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has chosen Indiana Governor Mike Pence to be his vice presidential running mate.

"I am pleased to announce that I have chosen Governor Mike Pence as my Vice Presidential running mate," Trump tweeted on Friday.

Trump said he would make a formal announcement about his VP pick at a news conference on Saturday.

Pence, 57, was elected as the governor of the state of Indiana in 2012. Before his current job, he spent 12 years in Washington in the US House of Representatives at the Congress.

Pence's popularity with many Republicans and religious conservatives makes him a target of Democratic opponents.

After the announcement, presumptive US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton issued a warning about Pence, saying he favors policies that hurt minorities and favor the wealthy and powerful — people like Trump.

“By picking Mike Pence as his running mate, Donald Trump has doubled down on some of his most disturbing beliefs by choosing an incredibly divisive and unpopular running mate," said John Podesta, Clinton's campaign chairman.

Pence's legislative experience in Congress as well as his position as governor of a Midwestern state could give Trump advantages in November’s presidential election.

The vast majority of Americans say they feel afraid if either Trump or Clinton is elected to the White House, a new poll shows.

The Associated Press-GfK poll released Thursday found that 81 percent of US voters were worried by the idea of a Clinton or Trump presidency.

On Wednesday, a poll by the Quinnipiac University showed that Trump has also overtaken Clinton in three swing states of Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

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