Indiana Gov. Mike Pence’s name is increasingly being floated as a potential running mate for Donald Trump, the GOP’s presumptive nominee.
Asked on Thursday about whether Pence knew if he was being vetted for the VP slot by the Trump campaign, Pence did not directly answer reporters’ questions.
“You’d have to talk to their campaign about who they’re looking at or who they’re not looking at,” Pence said on Thursday morning. “I’ll cut to the chase. I haven’t spoken to Donald Trump since before the Indiana primary and I certainly have never spoken to him about that topic. But I think any attention on us is more of a reflection of the progress that we’ve been making in this state.”
While Pence may not have directly spoken with Trump about the vice presidential spot, an “individual knowledgeable of conversations about the decision” told NBC that Pence is “in play.”
Marc Lotter, deputy campaign manager of Pence’s gubernatorial re-election bid, told the Washington Examiner the two campaigns’ staffs communicate “often” as they look to put Indiana in Republicans’ column in November.
Pence endorsed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz before the Hoosier State primary last month, but boarded the Trump train soon after the former reality television star won Indiana and cleared the Republican primary field. Lotter said Pence was up front with Trump about his actions. And the governor’s decisions do not appear to have hurt his standing much with Trump.
Lotter said Pence’s campaign is looking to coordinate with Trump’s team for an upcoming event on July 12, within one week of the GOP convention. Trump has said he would announce his running mate selection at the convention.
Whether any joint appearance days before Trump’s formal nomination would foreshadow the top of the Republican ticket in November remains to be seen.
