It’s down to whether Donald Trump wants a “fellow pirate” or a “relatively stable, more normal person.”
That was the assessment from former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who dismissed “all sorts of rumors” that the presumptive Republican nominee had tapped Indiana Gov. Mike Pence to be his running mate, saying that the businessman hadn’t told him his decision yet.
In an address on Facebook Live, the ex-Georgia lawmaker made a final pitch to be Trump’s sidekick, saying that his national appeal and his reputation as a fellow revolutionary willing to upend Washington politics would come in handy in a race against Democrat Hillary Clinton.
“I told him quite directly he had a choice between having two pirates on the ticket and a pirate and a relatively stable, more normal person,” Gingrich said, referring to Pence’s more subdued personality. “That’s something Trump has to personally do as he sees it through his perspective.”
Trump’s campaign insisted a decision has not been made yet, and other Republicans cautioned that he may change his mind about his apparent decision. Trump said Thursday evening on Twitter that, following a terror attack in France, he was canceling the formal announcement of his selection that had been scheduled for Friday morning in New York had.
Gingrich on Thursday outlined what he called an arduous vetting process with Trump’s campaign, which included 113 detailed questions and a request for everything he had written. He also met with Trump for about 2 1/2 hours on Wednesday in Indianapolis in a final audition.
The former speaker praised Pence as a candidate who would have “a huge Midwestern appeal” and help burnish the Republican’s attempt to win Michigan, Ohio and other competitive states. But he cast himself as a more far-reaching choice with a wider national audience.
“I have some appeal in virtually every state,” he said.
And he said he would bring transparency to the gig, using social media to answer questions and hold court with potential voters.
“Tomorrow I’m going to spend some time after the Trump announcement — whether I’m the person who is announced or we have Mike Pence — I’m going to do a Facebook Live,” he said. “And I promise you if I am the nominee, I’ll be a nominee with Facebook Live. You’ll have lots of opportunities.”
He added: “We’ll find out what Donald Trump decides to do.”
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