Mike Pence, the 50th governor of Indiana, will join the presumptive nominee’s ticket as they attempt to rally enough voters to defeat Hillary Clinton in the general election.
Many pundits have viewed the decision as low-risk, low-reward. Here are the positives and negatives of the choice:
POSITIVES
Pence is a born-again Christian, who could help shore up Evangelical support for Trump. “For me it all begins with faith; it begins with what matters most, and I try and put what I believe to be moral truth first. My philosophy of government second. And my politics third,” Pence said in a 2010 appearance on the Christian Broadcasting Network.
Pence is well-respected by his former colleagues in the House of Representatives, and is an apt fundraiser. He reportedly has a good relationship with Speaker Paul Ryan and many of the higher-ups in Congress.
Pence described himself as “Rush Limbaugh on decaf,” which signifies that while he’s a conservative former radio host, he’s not as bombastic as the popular Limbaugh. This will perhaps negate Trump’s high-key, mercurial demeanor.
NEGATIVES
Pence had a thin record in the House, passing only twenty-one of his ninety proposed standalone bills. He surprisingly voted against many major Bush-era initiatives such as No Child Left Behind and the Bank Bailout in 2008.
Pence garnered explosive controversy when he signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 2015. The LGBT community responded that it would permit discrimination in the workforce.
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