Republicans in Cleveland Applaud Trump Pick of Mike Pence

http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-07-15/republicans-in-cleveland-applaud-trump-pick-of-mike-pence

Republican delegates and party leaders gathering in Cleveland for next week’s national convention praised Donald Trump’s selection of Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate, saying it would stabilize the ticket and calm social conservatives.

As thousands of Republicans prepare to descend on Ohio’s second-largest city, the pick triggered high anticipation to see the duo together as a national ticket for the first time. Trump is seeking to unify the party at a four-day convention already marked by an effort to derail his nomination and the absence of notable Republicans who are cool to Trump’s candidacy.

“I’m impressed with his conservative credentials and I think he will be a positive, stabilizing force for the Trump campaign,” said Kris Warner, a national committeeman from West Virginia. “I think it’s a very positive move.”

Haley Barbour, a former Mississippi governor and past Republican National Committee chairman, called Pence “a very solid, well-regarded person” who would help calm the nerves of social conservatives who worry that Trump isn’t conservative enough.

Pence is generally viewed as having less of Huckabee’s folksiness and knack for retail politics.

The choice of Pence, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 12 years, was a nod to social conservatives and to the Rust Belt, a region crucial to Trump’s chances of victory.

It adds significant government experience to Trump’s outsider campaign for the White House.

An Indiana native and former radio talk-show host who became a born-again Christian in college, Pence has championed limited government and social causes, such as opposition to abortion, that appealed to conservatives and evangelicals.

“He appeals to a different side of the party,” said Tom Mechler, chairman of the Republican Party of Texas. “It sends a very strong message for what’s important to Trump. If there is a lingering concern, I think that is off the table as of today.”

Pence has deep ties with conservative groups and a history of helping those entities that will generate more enthusiasm for Trump among conservative voters, said Morton Blackwell, a delegate from Virginia who backed Senator Ted Cruz of Texas in the primaries.

“It unquestionably will help him with conservatives across a broad spectrum,” Blackwell said.

“Mike Pence is a full-spectrum Reagan conservative on limited government, free enterprise, strong defense, and traditional values.”

Blackwell said he’s been a longtime friend and admirer of Pence and hoped that Trump would name him to the ticket. Before Pence decided to run for Indiana governor, Blackwell and former Representatives Dick Armey of Texas and David McIntosh of Indiana issued a public statement urging him to run for president, he said.

McIntosh is now president of the Club for Growth, an organization that’s dogmatic about cutting taxes and reducing the size of government. It has feuded with Trump in the 2016 White House race but was the top contributor to Pence’s congressional campaigns, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Adding Pence to the ticket should help encourage donors who were reluctant to back Trump to open their wallets, said Laura Walsh, a delegate from Maryland and a longtime Trump supporter. “He’s a guy that brings in money,” Walsh said. “Money that Trump has had difficulty raising.”

Jeff Cardwell, Indiana’s Republican Party chairman, said Pence brings assets that will balance the ticket and could help attract votes in Pence’s neighboring Midwest states that Trump has targeted.

Pence has overseen a strong job-rate increase and a AAA government bond rating, on top of his years in Congress that include serving on the Foreign Affairs Committee, Cardwell said. Indiana’s unemployment rate was 5.0 percent in May, down from 8.4 percent when Pence took office in January 2013.

“His record speaks well of his leadership,” Cardwell said. “Pence brings a lot of value to the ticket.”

Read the following excerpts from ” Republicans in Cleveland Applaud Trump Pick of Mike Pence ” by John McCormick & Mark Niquette

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: TRUMP PICKS “PRINCIPLED CONSERVATIVE” IN PENCE VP SELECTION

“Principled Conservative” … “Solid Grasp On Policy” … “A Home Run” … “Could Not Have Made A Better Choice”

American Conservative Union’s Matt Schlapp: “This is welcome and exciting news to conservative activists across the country…he is a social conservative, he is a free market advocate, he is strong on national defense, he has sterling character…” (Washington Examiner, 7/15/16)

Club for Growth president David McIntosh : “Mike Pence would be an outstanding vice president.” (WSJ, 7/15/16)

The Washington Post’s Dan Balz: “The Choice Of Pence Brings Trump Obvious Short-Term Benefits.” (The Washington Post , 7/15/16)

ABC News’ Rick Klein: “Pence Is A Solid Social And Fiscal Conservative, With Both Washington And Statehouse Experience…” “Pence is a solid social and fiscal conservative, with both Washington and statehouse experience, not to mention a Midwestern vanilla manner that leaves him a virtual unknown outside Indiana.” (ABC News, 7/14/16)

Bloomberg’s Albert Hunt: “Donald Trump Has Selected The Perfect Non-Trump As His Running Mate.” (Bloomberg, 7/15/16)

Fox News’ Stephen Moore: “Well Donald Trump Has Passed His First Big Test As A Presidential Nominee With Flying Colors.” (Fox News, 7/15/16)

Fox News Headline: “Why Mike Pence Is A Gutsy Choice For Trump.” (Fox News, 7/15/16)

NBC News’ Benji Sarlin: “Pence Brings Plenty Of Experience To The Trump Ticket… Steady Conservative Record…” “Indiana Gov. Mike Pence brings plenty of experience to the Trump ticket. In addition to his time running the state, he had a long career in Congress, where he served for more than a decade and rose to a leadership position. His steady conservative record prompted speculation that he might run as a dark horse presidential candidate in 2012 and 2016, but he declined both times.” (NBC News, 7/15/16)

PBS’ Gretchen Frazee And Daniel Bush: “Pence Is A Republican’s Republican.” (PBS, 7/15/16)

CNBC: “Pence… Brings Years Of Legislative And Executive Experience.” “Pence represents a relatively safe pick for Trump, and brings years of legislative and executive experience.” (CNBC, 7/15/16)

Chicago Tribune Editorial Board: “[Pence Is] A Principled Conservative… A Veteran Legislator With A Solid Grasp Of Policy…” “The Indiana governor has a lot to recommend him. He’s a principled conservative who understands and shares his party’s ideals. He’s a veteran legislator with a solid grasp of policy, based on 12 years in Congress and a stint as head of a conservative Indiana think tank.” (Chicago Tribune , 7/15/16)

The Wall Street Journal’s Patrick O’Connor: Pence “A Seasoned Conservative.”“Donald Trump named Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his running mate Friday, balancing his ticket with a seasoned conservative.” (The Wall Street Journal, 7/15/16)

The Hill’s Peter Schroeder: “Establishment And Conservative Bona Fides… A Man With Experience…” “Vice presidential nominee Mike Pence is lending his GOP establishment and conservative bona fides to Donald Trump. Trump’s selection of Pence as his No. 2 gives the ticket a man with experience running a Midwestern state who is also a household name in the hallways of Congress.” (The Hill, 7/15/16)

USA Today’s Eliza Collins: “Mike Pence Being On Donald Trump’s Ticket Is Making Some Conservatives Very Happy.” (USA Today , 7/15/16)

Susan B. Anthony List’s Marjorie Dannenfelser: “ Mr. Trump’s selection of Gov. Mike Pence is an affirmation of the pro-life commitments he’s made and will rally the pro-life grassroots…Mr. Trump could not have made a better choice.” (Washington Examiner, 7/15/16)

Bloomberg’s Mark Niquette: Pence “Adds Significant Government Experience…”“The choice of Pence, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 12 years, was a nod to the socially conservative wing of the Republican Party and to the Rust Belt, a region crucial to Trump’s chances of victory. It adds significant government experience to Trump’s outsider campaign for the White House.” (Bloomberg, 7/15/16)

US News’ Peter Roff: “Pence Is A Solid Conservative With A Strong Record…” “Pence is a solid conservative with a strong record, both in Congress and as governor of Indiana where he has been an aggressive proponent of expanding parental choice in education and broke the big labor stranglehold on blue collar workers by signing a right-to-work law.” (US News, 7/15/16)

USA Today’s David Jackson: Pence “A Policy Maker Who Is Well Liked By Conservative Lawmakers And Activists…” “In Pence, Trump went with a candidate who, while he will no doubt be aggressive on the stump, is known more as a policy maker who is well liked by conservative lawmakers and activists – many of whom applauded his selection.” (USA Today , 7/15/16)

National Rifle Association’s Ken Blackwell: “Mike Pence is a home run choice and by picking him Donald Trump gets a A-plus for his first presidential decision.” (Breitbart , 7/15/16)

Faith and Freedom Coalition’s Tim Head: “It’s a very solid pick from an evangelical standpoint, from a conservative standpoint, and from a personal standpoint.” (Washington Examiner, 7/15/16)

Young America’s Foundation : “A step in the right direction. Our country desperately needs leaders committed to promoting conservative principles – and Pence fits comfortable into that category.” (Washington Examiner, 7/15/16)

Concerned Women for America CEO Penny Nance: “I look forward to working with him as Vice President. This is an excellent choice by Donald Trump, Mike Pence will be a unifying factor and conservatives will be very supportive.” (WSJ, 7/15/16)

For America Chairman Brent Bozell : “The naming of Governor Mike Pence as his running mate is a homerun for Donald Trump. It’s the best conservatives could possibly want. It’s a powerful signal, and a welcomed one. This was a top priority for conservatives, and Trump came through in a smashing manner.” (Breitbart , 7/15/16)