WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump abruptly postponed plans to announce
his vice presidential pick following a day of rampant speculation,
citing the "horrible attack" in Nice, France, that left scores dead.
Trump
had planned to hold his first event with his yet-to-be-named running
mate Friday morning in New York. He announced the change of plans
Thursday evening on Twitter.
The stunning announcement raised
questions about the status of Trump's selection process. Indiana Gov.
Mike Pence had emerged as a late favorite for the job, though Trump said
he had not finalized the pick and advisers cautioned he could change
his mind.
"I haven't made my final, final decision," Trump said on
Fox News Channel. He said that while his running mate selection would
"absolutely not" be changed by the France attack, he did not feel it was
appropriate to hold a news conference in its aftermath.
Dozens of
people were killed late Thursday in the French resort city of Nice when
a truck drove onto a sidewalk and plowed through a crowd of Bastille
Day revelers who'd gathered to watch fireworks.
In addition to
Pence, Trump's shortlist included former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, according to people familiar with the
candidate's thinking.
After spending much of Thursday in
Indianapolis, Pence flew to New York late in the day, according to a
Republican familiar with the process. Indianapolis television station
WTHR posted a video showing Pence arriving at a private airport outside
New York early Thursday evening.
Trump did not say when he planned
to announce his running mate. He's up against a clock: The Republican
convention kicks off in Cleveland Monday.
Top party officials are
already in Cleveland, grappling with a rules fight that increased the
odds of nationally televised clashes at the convention. Talks broke down
Thursday between party leaders and recalcitrant conservatives seeking
to "unbind" convention delegates and let them back any presidential
candidate they'd like.
Conservatives hope that would lead to delegates blocking Trump's nomination.
The
convention and vice presidential announcement give Trump back-to-back
opportunities to reassure Americans — as well as leaders within his own
party — that he's prepared for the presidency.
Pence, a staunch
conservative who served six terms in Congress, is seen as a running mate
who would have the backing of GOP leaders and ease some of their
concerns about Trump's political inexperience and volatile temperament.
He
has influential allies in Trump's inner circle. But some of Trump's
children, who have been closely advising their father, are said to favor
different candidates.
Campaign chair Paul Manafort was among
those urging caution in assuming any decision Thursday, saying on
Twitter that Trump's choice "will be made in the near future."
As
the day began, it appeared the decision would come quickly. Gingrich,
the fiery Republican who helped define the political battles of the
1990s, told The Associated Press that Trump was supposed to let him know
something in the afternoon. But by early evening, Gingrich told the AP
he had heard nothing from Trump or others in the campaign.
Other Republicans with knowledge of the process said there had been no calls to Pence or Christie, either.
The
top contenders have been vetted by a top Washington lawyer and all have
spent time with Trump in recent days. But the final decision rests with
the candidate, who is known for making decisions more on instinct than
other factors — and for sometimes changing his mind.
Trump was in
California Thursday for several fundraisers. His schedule put him at a
distance from many of his closest advisers, including Manafort and his
three oldest children.
Pence is running for re-election, but
Indiana law prevents him from seeking two offices at once. He faces a
Friday deadline to withdraw from the governor's race.
The
paperwork has been drawn up for him to take that step, according to a
Republican, who insisted on anonymity because that person was not
authorized to publicly discuss the plans. However, those documents have
not been filed.
Christie, in New Jersey, said in an interview with
MSNBC, "No matter what phone call (Trump) makes to me today, I will
take a deep breath and prepare for tomorrow." That interview came hours
before David Samson, whom Christie appointed to chair the powerful Port
Authority of New York and New Jersey, pleaded guilty to scheming to get
United Airlines to run direct flights between New Jersey and South
Carolina, where he has a vacation home.
Gingrich was the most
visible of the contenders. As speculation about his future swirled, he
calmly answered questions about the selection process on Facebook Live,
saying he had told Trump the choice was between having "two pirates on
the ticket or a pirate and a relatively stable, more normal person."
Beyond their political backgrounds, the finalists bring different strengths to the ticket.
Pence,
57, has deep ties to evangelical Christians and other conservatives,
particularly after signing a law last year that critics said would have
allowed businesses to deny service to gay people for religious reasons.
But the move alienated some moderates in the party.
Trump took
notice of Pence during the Indiana primary, noting that the governor had
high praise for him despite endorsing one of his rivals.
Gingrich,
73, is something of a rabble-rouser who has spent decades in
Washington. He has been a steadfast Trump defender for months and has
become a trusted adviser to the businessman.
So, too, has
Christie. The New Jersey governor quickly endorsed Trump after ending
his own presidential bid, stunning many of his supporters.
A
former U.S. attorney, Christie, 53, is widely seen as one of his party's
most talented politicians and has proven himself an effective "attack
dog" on the trail. He has also taken on the important role of heading
Trump's transition planning.