NEW YORK, NY – MAY 03: Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump speaks to supporters and the media at Trump Tower in Manhattan following his victory in the Indiana primary on May 03, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said he is postponing his news conference scheduled for Friday to announce his running mate because of the truck attack in Nice, France that left at least 72 dead. Mr. Trump was expected to make the announcement after reports widely circulated claiming Indiana Gov. Mike Pence was his choice.
In light of the horrible attack in Nice, France, I have postponed tomorrow’s news conference concerning my Vice Presidential announcement.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 14, 2016
However, Paul Manafort, Mr. Trump’s campaign manager and his senior communications adviser, Jason Miller, tweeted that no decision had been made.
“The pick, if true, is a clear indication that the Trump campaign understands that his path of victory runs through Rust Belt America,” said PPD’s senior political analyst Richard Baris. “He is already running way ahead of both Mitt Romney and John McCain in states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio and Iowa. Gov. Mike Pence is the governor of a once-competitive must-win Rust Belt state, who also has considerable experience on Capitol Hill and as an executive.”
Mr. Trump has reversed his decline in the polls and now leads Hillary Clinton in the key battleground states of Iowa, Pennsylvania and Florida. He is roughly tied in Ohio, leading within the margin of error. The latest national tracking poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports finds Mr. Trump ahead by 7 points.
