Trump presents Pence as running mate

NEW YORK – Donald Trump introduced his running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, with a speech hammering Hillary Clinton’s record but also boasting about primary victories and even a hotel he’s renovating.

Trump and Pence shared the stage only momentarily in an unusual appearance stripped of much of the pomp of the typical announcement of a vice presidential candidate.

Trump praised Pence for what he said was a strong fiscal record in Indiana, but repeatedly veered away from his notes to expound on familiar themes- the threat from Islamic terrorism, the need for “law and order” and his vow to force U.S. companies to stop moving manufacturing jobs to Mexico.

For the attack in Nice, France, and the attempted coup in Turkey, which together killed hundreds, Trump blamed Clinton, the former secretary of state.

“She led (President Barack Obama) right down a horrible path,” Trump said. “He didn’t know what he was doing .. Every single thing they’ve touched has turned to horrible, horrible, death-defying problems.”

Pence, Trump said, “will never be afraid to speak the name of our enemies.”

“I found the leader who will help us deliver a safe society, and a prosperous society,” said Trump, who spoke for nearly 30 minutes before bringing on Pence. In between praising Pence’s record in Indiana, Trump bragged about his own “landslide” victories in the Republican primaries and about how well his hotel renovation project in Washington was going.

In choosing Pence, 57, Trump picked a mild-mannered, relatively safe political figure who in many ways presents a contrast to his own combative style. Pence has been a faithful supporter of evangelical priorities like restricting abortion, and he drew praise from conservatives and members of the party establishment that remain wary of Trump.

Trump acknowledged that one of the big reasons he chose Pence was to promote “party unity.”

“Because I’m an outsider,” he said. “I want to be an outsider.”

Trump and Pence spoke in a midtown Manhattan hotel, capping a typically wild and unpredictable selection process. Trump at first scheduled the event for Friday morning, but delayed it for 24 hours in what he said was a show of respect for the victims of the terrorist attack in France. But then he announced the choice of Pence on Friday morning anyway, on Twitter.

Trump was reportedly unhappy that aides had leaked Pence’s name, and said that he was reconsidering the choice as late as Thursday night. Trump called Pence “my first choice” and said he didn’t hold a grudge because Pence endorsed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in the primary, noting that Pence praised him as well.

“Even though he was under pressure, because I’m outside the establishment, it was the single greatest nonendorsement I’ve ever had in my life,” Trump said. Two other apparent finalists, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, had pushed aggressively for the vice presidential slot, and seemed closer to Trump’s own let-it-rip instincts for campaigning. Gingrich ran into controversy this week by proposing that all Muslims in the U.S. should be deported if they say they believe in sharia law.

It was also a rough week for Christie, as one of his closest advisers, attorney David Samson, pleaded guilty to a felony charge that grew out of an investigation into Christie’s office.

Pence has called Trump’s proposed ban on Muslims entering the U.S. “offensive and unconstitutional.” But that wasn’t mentioned Saturday, as Pence launched into a strong, full-throated endorsement of conservative positions, promising that Trump would help kill the Affordable Care Act, rebuild the military, restrict immigration and “lead from strength.” Though Trump has said little about social conservative positions, Pence said the country needed respect for “sanctity of life.”

The Clinton campaign immediately hit Pence, posting an attack video before the Trump campaign website even had been updated to mention the Indiana governor. Clinton’s campaign pointed out that Pence signed a law allowing Indiana businesses to ignore anti-discrimination laws that conflict with their religious beliefs, widely regarded as an anti-gay measure.

Her campaign released a new video just before Trump’s announcement, mocking his reported indecision before he settled on Pence, trying to slice away at his image as a tough decision-maker: “Always divisive. Not so decisive,” the video says.

Republican leaders praised the choice of Pence with the outright enthusiasm that they haven’t been able to muster about Trump himself. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan said Pence, a former congressman, was “steady and secure in his principles” while Ryan’s predecessor, John A. Boehner, the former House speaker, called Pence an “exceptional leader and even better man.”