UPDATE: Donald Trump postpones VP announcement, cites France attack

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Paul Ryan says Indiana Gov. Mike Pence would be a good pick for Donald Trump’s vice president.

Ryan says it’s no secret he’s a big fan of Pence’s and holds him in very high regard.

Ryan tells reporters Thursday: “I hope that he picks a good movement conservative. Clearly Mike is one of those.”

The Wisconsin Republican says he doesn’t know what Trump will do, and “I hope he makes a good pick and clearly that would be a good one.”

Trump’s vice presidential announcement is expected soon with the Republican National Convention getting under way in Cleveland next week.

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By Julie Pace, AP White House Correspondent

WASHINGTON — Donald Trump is on the verge of picking his vice presidential running mate, with top contenders told to expect a decision as early as Thursday afternoon.

On Trump’s shortlist: Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, according to people familiar with the candidate’s thinking.

Pence quickly exited a speaking event in Indianapolis Thursday morning without taking questions from reporters. His staff has not released details of any other planned appearances Thursday.

All three of the finalists have had extensive conversations with Trump and his family in recent days.

Gingrich told The Associated Press he was expecting to hear from Trump one way or the other sometime after 1 p.m. The former Georgia congressman praised Trump for running a “very fair, open process” and said he looked forward to learning the businessman’s decision.

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Gingrich later posted on Facebook that he would hold a live chat at 2 p.m. about the “vice presidential picks and the VP selection process.”

Trump and his new running mate will make their first appearance as a team Friday in New York. The timing is aimed at energizing Republicans ahead of next week’s Republican convention in Cleveland.

Each of Trump’s top contenders would add significant political experience to the GOP ticket. Trump, a political novice, has said for weeks that he wanted a running mate who could help him work with Congress.

Beyond their political backgrounds, the finalists bring different strengths to the ticket.

Pence, 57, is a steady, staunch conservative who would help calm nervous Republican wary of Trump’s impulsive style. He served six terms in Congress before becoming Indiana governor. He also 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.

Trump took notice of Pence during the Indiana primary, noting that the governor had high praise for him despite endorsing one of his rivals.

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Gingrich is a boisterous rabble-rouser who has spent decades in Washington and helped define the political battles of the 1990s. The 73-year-old would be the oldest candidate ever to become vice president.

Gingrich 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 retail politicians and has proven himself a biting attack dog on the trail. He’s also become a valuable partner for Trump, joining him at events on the trail and taking on the important role of heading Trump’s transition planning.

AP writer Brian Slodysko in Indianapolis contributed to this report. 

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donald trump, mike pence, politics
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