Trump and family meet with VP finalists

[webfact]

Trump and family meet with VP finalists
BY BRIAN SLODYSKO, JILL COLVIN and STEVE PEOPLES

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Republican Donald Trump on Wednesday entered the final phase of his high-profile search for a running mate, arranging last-minute meetings with his finalists and family members as his staff prepares for a Friday announcement.

Trump, his adult children and key staffers huddled with one of the prospects.

He began the day with breakfast at the residence of one, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, Wednesday morning, a day after the pair campaigned together in the state. They were joined by Trump's three adult children, along with his son-and-law and campaign chair Paul Manafort, who were seen leaving the residence.

Hours later, Newt Gingrich, another finalist, was seen with Trump's entourage at a downtown Indianapolis hotel. Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, who has been advising Trump, was spotted arriving at the same hotel not long after Gingrich left.

Trump's family, including Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, also met privately with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Tuesday. The meeting was confirmed by a source with direct knowledge of the meeting, but was not authorized to discuss it publicly.

The meetings have been designed to let Trump's family get to know the candidates better before the presumptive nominee formalizes his decision.

Trump had originally planned to fly back from Indiana with Pence following a rally Tuesday night, but his plane was grounded by mechanical issues, so Trump's kids flew to join them in Indiana, another person familiar with his movements but not authorized to discuss them said.

"It was a late plan," Pence told reporters later Wednesday. "I was hauling dishes from the cupboard at midnight. (His wife) Karen laid out a nice spread."

Indiana is a state with particular significance for the presumptive GOP nominee: It's where he effectively locked up the GOP nomination with a commanding primary win that drove former rival Ted Cruz from the race.

Pence, Chris Christie and Gingrich were said to be the final contenders for vice presidential candidate on the Republican ticket less than a week before the GOP meets in Cleveland for the formal nomination. That's according to a person familiar with Trump's thinking, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss the vetting process. Trump said in a Tuesday interview with The Wall Street Journal that Sessions, Trump's top Senate advocate, is also still in the mix.

Pence is a steady, staunch conservative who would help calm nervous Republican wary of Trump's impulsive style. Gingrich is a boisterous rabble-rouser who has spent decades in Washington, including as House speaker. Christie, a one-time rival, has become one of Trump's most trusted advisers.

Trump has spent weeks consulting with friends and family as he weighs the most important decision of his campaign to date. He's also brought his finalists on tour, having them opening for him at speeches and rallies to test their receptions before his crowds.

"It's a little bit like 'The Apprentice,'" Gingrich, the former House Speaker, said in a Tuesday interview with Fox News Channel. "You find out sooner or later who the last one standing is."

Trump appeared reluctant to commit on Wednesday. "I'm narrowing it down. I mean I'm at three, potentially four. But in my own mind, I probably am thinking about two," he told Fox News Channel's Bret Baier.

Introducing Trump at a rally in Westfield, Indiana, on Tuesday evening, Pence received an enthusiastic reception as he compared Trump to Republican icon Ronald Reagan and dug into Trump's likely Democrat rival, Hillary Clinton.

Trump told The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday he is looking for a "fighter skilled in hand-to-hand combat" as his second-in-command, but hadn't seen enough of Pence to measure his fight.

While Trump kept his cards close, he spoke playfully of Pence at the rally: "I don't know whether he's going to be your governor or your vice president."

Pence told reporters Wednesday he was "honored by the attention" and the "opportunity to get to know this good man and his family."

"There's a number of other and noteworthy Americans that they're considering and I'm just honored to be on that list," he said.

Pence and Gingrich would be welcome picks among anxious Republican officials already gathering in Cleveland for next week's convention. Their governing experience and popularity among the party's conservative base would mark a sharp contrast to Trump, whose brand of politics has alienated hard-line conservatives and establishment Republicans alike.

Trump's team has been building hype for the decision, including in a text message to supporters that urged recipients to sign up to receive an early notification of the choice. Fox News Channel added to the speculation Tuesday when it said it had suspended its contributor agreement with Gingrich "due to the intense media speculation" about his potential to join Trump's ticket.

Less than an hour later, Gingrich appeared on the network and suggested Trump's decision was imminent.

"My guess is you're going to hear either tomorrow or Thursday," Gingrich said.

___

Colvin reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Jonathan Lemire in New York and Julie Bykowicz in Indiana contributed to this report.

-- (c) Associated Press 2016-07-14

[ezzra]

So now, selecting a VP become a family affair where the family members are taking active part in the

process of deciding the future of America, this man is getting more and more bizarre by the minute

and make Clinton looks by default to be the more sane person to go for......

[keemapoot]

So now, selecting a VP become a family affair where the family members are taking active part in the

process of deciding the future of America, this man is getting more and more bizarre by the minute

and make Clinton looks by default to be the more sane person to go for......

Indeed. America stands stupidly by while an entire un-vetted, politically inexperienced, and un-elected bizarre NY family clan decides the future of the country if their orange patriach is elected. I fully expect chief of staff to be Ivanka, same as her father...no experience in government, and never paid her dues outside the family.

[ilostmypassword]

Actually, 2 of the 3 candidates, Christie and Pence could be likened to rats deserting a sinking ship. Christie is massively unpopular in New Jersey, and Pence merely unpopular in Indiana.

[Berkshire]

If the Trump family gets the final word, you know who'd they pick....Ivanka.

http://www.oregonlive.com/today/index.ssf/2016/07/donald_trump_insiders_pushed_i.html

[Berty100]

So now, selecting a VP become a family affair where the family members are taking active part in the

process of deciding the future of America, this man is getting more and more bizarre by the minute

and make Clinton looks by default to be the more sane person to go for......

Yeah very weired, I guess crooked Hilary will make the selection by email instead

[anono222]

So now, selecting a VP become a family affair where the family members are taking active part in the

process of deciding the future of America, this man is getting more and more bizarre by the minute

and make Clinton looks by default to be the more sane person to go for......

Indeed. America stands stupidly by while an entire un-vetted, politically inexperienced, and un-elected bizarre NY family clan decides the future of the country if their orange patriach is elected. I fully expect chief of staff to be Ivanka, same as her father...no experience in government, and never paid her dues outside the family.

Darn right we are! Lest we stand bye stupidly and wait for the vetted, politically experienced and previously elected bunch of cronies to continue with the defamation of America as it has for the last 50 years. Can't see where new faces can do us any worse. Cheers...

[darren84310]

So now, selecting a VP become a family affair where the family members are taking active part in the

process of deciding the future of America, this man is getting more and more bizarre by the minute

and make Clinton looks by default to be the more sane person to go for......

I feel sorry for anyone who takes this kind of paper talk seriously and with the only evidence being a source not authorised to say anything and can't be named it doesn't take a genius to work out that this story might not be all that factual.

[mrwebb8825]

Personally I'm kind of hoping he'll surprise everyone and pick Giuliani from NY. Then, appoint the attorney that kept the Teflon Don out of prison for so many years as the new AG and sick him on the Clintons.

[keemapoot]

So now, selecting a VP become a family affair where the family members are taking active part in the

process of deciding the future of America, this man is getting more and more bizarre by the minute

and make Clinton looks by default to be the more sane person to go for......

Indeed. America stands stupidly by while an entire un-vetted, politically inexperienced, and un-elected bizarre NY family clan decides the future of the country if their orange patriach is elected. I fully expect chief of staff to be Ivanka, same as her father...no experience in government, and never paid her dues outside the family.

Darn right we are! Lest we stand bye stupidly and wait for the vetted, politically experienced and previously elected bunch of cronies to continue with the defamation of America as it has for the last 50 years. Can't see where new faces can do us any worse. Cheers...

I'm sure you feel the same way about your cardiac surgeon's untrained family assisting him with your bypass, right?

[grumpyoldman]

Well, Ivanka was in on the investor meetings where they defrauded people out of 37 million US, Trump Jr. too.............guess if I were in on this meeting I'd be keeping a close eye on my Rolex as well as my bank account numbers amongst these thieves.

NY trash.

[Berty100]

So now, selecting a VP become a family affair where the family members are taking active part in the

process of deciding the future of America, this man is getting more and more bizarre by the minute

and make Clinton looks by default to be the more sane person to go for......

Indeed. America stands stupidly by while an entire un-vetted, politically inexperienced, and un-elected bizarre NY family clan decides the future of the country if their orange patriach is elected. I fully expect chief of staff to be Ivanka, same as her father...no experience in government, and never paid her dues outside the family.

Darn right we are! Lest we stand bye stupidly and wait for the vetted, politically experienced and previously elected bunch of cronies to continue with the defamation of America as it has for the last 50 years. Can't see where new faces can do us any worse. Cheers...

I'm sure you feel the same way about your cardiac surgeon's untrained family assisting him with your bypass, right?

Not sure if any of you had reading classes lately, but this is what I read in the OP

The meetings have been designed to let Trump's family get to know the candidates better before the presumptive nominee formalizes his decision.

Nothing about that any of the family members were considered to make a decision on who the VP will be.

Edited July 14, 2016 by Berty100

[Andaman Al]

Trump's family, including Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, also met privately with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Tuesday.

There is something just not right about all of this. It is nothing to do with his daughter. Now if the 'family' were meeting the chosen running mate, fine, but they are not, they are clearly being used as part of the 'vetting process' for the new VP.

I hope the RWNJ's know what they are taking on with Trump.

This just says it all:

"It's a little bit like 'The Apprentice,'" Gingrich, the former House Speaker, said in a Tuesday interview with Fox News Channel.

I can't stop thinking of a fairly profound religious quote "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do".

[dunroaming]

Who wants to commit political suicide? Form a queue for HMS Trumptanic.

[keemapoot]

Indeed. America stands stupidly by while an entire un-vetted, politically inexperienced, and un-elected bizarre NY family clan decides the future of the country if their orange patriach is elected. I fully expect chief of staff to be Ivanka, same as her father...no experience in government, and never paid her dues outside the family.

Darn right we are! Lest we stand bye stupidly and wait for the vetted, politically experienced and previously elected bunch of cronies to continue with the defamation of America as it has for the last 50 years. Can't see where new faces can do us any worse. Cheers...

I'm sure you feel the same way about your cardiac surgeon's untrained family assisting him with your bypass, right?

Not sure if any of you had reading classes lately, but this is what I read in the OP

The meetings have been designed to let Trump's family get to know the candidates better before the presumptive nominee formalizes his decision.

Nothing about that any of the family members were considered to make a decision on who the VP will be.

Not sure if you've had reading classes lately, but if you had, you would have been able to read many, many articles which have analyzed and concluded that Trump's inner circle of his family clan the most (maybe only) trusted consultants of his are involved in every intimate detail of his campaign, and have been widely projected to play inside roles in the White House if he is elected.

Sounds like a bit more than a casual meet the family fireside chat.

[Chicog]

Probably the only ones he trusts to hide his dirt....

[Buzzz]

If the Trump family gets the final word, you know who'd they pick....Ivanka.

http://www.oregonlive.com/today/index.ssf/2016/07/donald_trump_insiders_pushed_i.html

That would be good.

Hope the press digs up some dirty pictures or movies.