Medved: Donald Trump makes one of his ‘best choices’

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump announced that Indiana Gov. Mike Pence will be his vice presidential running mate via Twitter Friday morning.

I am pleased to announce that I have chosen Governor Mike Pence as my Vice Presidential running mate. News conference tomorrow at 11:00 A.M.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 15, 2016

KTTH’s Michael Medved has heavily criticized Trump in the past, but he says this is one of Trump’s smarter moves.

“(Pence is) one of the best choices that Mr. Trump could have made,” Medved said. “Does it address all of his problems as a candidate? No, by no means. Does it mean I am all ready to put on my engineer’s cap and, woo-woo, get onboard the Trump train? No. But does it make it a lot easier for people to get on board the Trump train? It certainly does.”

Medved: Trump is worse than Hillary Clinton for president

Pence, 57, has deep ties to evangelical Christians and other conservatives. Medved says Pence will help unify the currently divided Republican Party.

“Mike Pence has lots and lots of admirers in the Republican Party,” Medved said. “I’m one of them.”

Medved lauded Pence’s work as a former radio talk-show host in Indianapolis prior to being elected.

“He is good at this (radio) job and I think this job is an important qualification,” Medved said. “(Tuesday) we were playing some of Mr. Trump’s radio contributions – which were entertaining.”

In addition to Pence, Trump’s shortlist included former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, according to people familiar with the candidate’s thinking. Medved said Gingrich would have been even more helpful as a “master of congressional strategy” and political savant, but that Gingrich also comes with baggage.

“The guy is good and he’s solid. And unlike Chris Christie and Newt Gingrich, he was untouched by scandal. And that’s important,” Medved said.

“Mike Pence has a model family, he is a devout Christian, he can speak intelligently about faith issues, can speak intelligently and compellingly about anything and I think he will be a very solid running mate.”

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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