Trump Reportedly Picks Mike Pence For Vice President

Update: Trump’s campaign is denying that Pence has been given the nod.

The media is buzzing with the news that Mike Pence is going to be Trump’s vice presidential running mate:

“Donald J. Trump’s campaign has signaled strongly to Republicans in Washington that he will pick Mike Pence, the governor of Indiana, as his running mate, though Republicans caution the party’s mercurial presidential candidate may still backtrack on his apparent choice.

Mr. Trump’s advisers have told national Republican officials that they are preparing to make an announcement with Mr. Pence, according to three people with knowledge of the conversations, who were not authorized to discuss them publicly. His campaign has said that it will unveil a running mate for Mr. Trump in New York on Friday.

Mr. Pence, a former congressman and radio host, emerged over the last week as the strong favorite of Mr. Trump’s political advisers and senior officials in the Republican Party. …”

A few thoughts:

1.) The VP pick is the biggest card Trump has left to play. It is largely a symbolic office. I have always assumed that Trump would pick a “TruConservative” for a running mate.

2.) In the present contest, it would be negligent for Trump not to use the VP pick to appease the “TruConservative” faction that has been the most opposed to him in the primaries. Party unity matters more right now than making a bold statement about building a nationalist party.

3.) In the primaries, Trump’s biggest weakness within the Republican Party was clearly