He is a well-connected fundraiser with loyal supporters on Capitol Hill who knows Talk Radio
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence has now been chosen to be Donald Trumps choice for Vice President and has been thrust into the national spotlight during the past weeks Republican National Convention. Here are five things to know about Pence who endorsed Sen. Ted Cruz in his states GOP presidential primary but has repeatedly spoken highly of Trump.
He is Devoted Family Man
Pence 57 and his wife Karen a former school teacher have a son and two daughters. Their eldest Michael Pence is a Marine Corps officer. Their youngest daughter Audrey Pence has talked about how she holds socially liberal views at odds with her father.
He has Loyal Supporters on Capitol Hill
Pence served six terms in the House representing an Indiana district firmly anchored in Rust Belt territory. Hes still beloved by many of his former colleagues on Capitol Hill where he transitioned from a Tea Party-style Republican insurgent to a leader in his party. That could be a benefit for Trump given his own so-so relationships on Capitol Hill.
Speaker Paul Ryan a frequent critic of Trumps has repeatedly praised Pence as a friend. Pence served as chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee and was later elected chairman of the House Republican Conference. He was also assigned to the Foreign Affairs Committee giving him national security credibility.
Lawmakers interviewed by The Hill last week said theyd be thrilled to have him back on the scene. Id be dancing in the aisles" said Rep. John Carter (R-Texas) who said he attended Bible study with Pence when both were in Washington.
He is a Well-Connected Fundraiser
Pence could go a long way in helping Trump shore up his fundraising deficit against Hillary Clinton the presumptive Democratic nominee. Pence is well-connected to the Republican national fundraising network from his time on Capitol Hill.
And he has deep ties to the network of groups run by billionaire GOP donors Charles and David Koch. Marc Short a longtime Pence adviser at one point served as president of Koch-backed Freedom Partners. And Matt Lloyd Pences deputy chief of staff was the director of communications for Koch Industries as recently as last year.
Other former Pence staffers are also part of the network giving him a foothold into a powerful organization that has so far been on the sidelines of the presidential race this year
He is a Staunch Social Conservative
A deeply religious man Pence is a staunch social conservative and devout evangelical Christian who would be a hit at the Republican National Convention next week. Having a running mate in the good graces of social conservatives wIll be a huge asset for Trump who has struggled to convince skeptical Christian conservatives that he is on their side.
Supporters have cheered Pences focus on tax cuts and credit him with signing into law one of the largest tax deals in state history. He has been pushing measures to limit the social impact of the LGBT community since his time in the House. The most notable legislation he signed as governor was the religious freedom law that fostered so much controversy.
Liberals despise Pence and Democrats will likely seek to frame him as a controversial figure and extremist who advocated for
legislation against LGBT people.
He Knows Talk Radio
Republicans laud Pence as an expert conservative communicator. Its something hes been working on for decades. Pence began his political career as the conservative radio talk show host of The Mike Pence Show" in the early 1990s which achieved statewide syndicat
