Pence meeting with Trump amid VP speculation

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is meeting with Donald Trump this weekend amid speculation that he is being vetted as a possible running mate.

Pence spokesman Marc Lotter confirmed the plans Friday morning, but said he couldn't comment on the topic of the meeting.

"Gov. Pence has accepted an invitation to spend a little time with Mr. Trump this weekend," Lotter said. "That's consistent with meetings Mr. Trump is holding with many key party leaders."

The Trump campaign did not return messages from IndyStar on Friday.

Pence said Thursday he has not talked to the presumptive Republican presidential nominee directly about becoming his running mate, but he also declined to rule out the possibility amid a report from NBC News that he is "in play" as a vice presidential pick.

The governor is among more than eight Republicans being vetted by the Trump campaign as a potential running mate, according to The Washington Post, which also named former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie as the leading contenders.

A face-to-face visit suggests the vetting process is moving to the next stage ahead of the Republican National Convention later this month, when delegates from across the country will formally nominate the party's presidential and vice presidential candidates.

Pence would bring to the Republican ticket strong support from social conservatives, who have been skeptical of Trump's positions on issues such as abortion and gay rights. Trump's team also has said he is looking for someone who knows how to navigate Congress. Pence served in the House for 12 years, and was chairman of the House Republican Conference. While in Congress, Pence led a fight to cut off funding to Planned Parenthood, and opposed new protections for federal employees who are gay.

Pence also has strong ties to Charles and David Koch, the billionaire industrialists and Republican mega-donors who reportedly have been cool about Trump's candidacy. Pence's deputy chief of staff was a former spokesman for Koch Industries, and his former chief of staff in Congress went on to lead the Koch's political umbrella organization. The Kochs also have contributed heavily to Pence's campaigns.

Support from the Koch network could be important for Trump as he transitions to the general election. Trump, who has largely self-funded his campaign so far, is short on money compared to his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. Trump raised just $3.1 million from donors in May; Clinton raised about $28 million in May for her campaign and a joint fundraising committee, ending the month with $42 million in available cash. Trump had just $1.3 million left in his accounts.

At home, Pence faces his own tough re-election bid for governor against Democrat John Gregg. A May poll showed Pence leading Gregg 40 percent to 36 percent, a virtual tie when factoring in the poll's 4 percent margin of error. Pence also faced Gregg in the 2012 gubernatorial race, which Pence won by 3 percentage points.

If Trump asks Pence to be his running mate, the first-term governor will have to decide whether to run on the November ballot as vice president or governor. State law prohibits him from seeking both offices at the same time.

Pence would have to withdraw as a candidate for governor by July 15 in order to allow Indiana Republican Party leaders to nominate a new gubernatorial candidate.

A vice presidential run would leave Indiana Republicans in a tough spot, seeking a new candidate just four months before the election. But it also would create an opportunity for moderate Republicans who have been unhappy with Pence’s hardline conservative positions on social issues such as gay rights.

Democrats already are seeking to leverage the vice presidential speculation in the governor’s race.

“Mike Pence seems to be more concerned about his own political career than the job Hoosiers elected him to do,” Democratic Party Chairman John Zody said in a statement Friday. “With plummeting approval ratings, Gov. Pence now wants to hit the ejection button so he can avoid campaigning on his failed tenure as governor.”

Indiana Republican Party Chairman Jeff Cardwell did not respond to messages from IndyStar.

USA TODAY and IndyStar reporter James Briggs contributed to this story. 

Call IndyStar reporter Tony Cook at (317) 444-6081. Follow him on Twitter:@indystartony.

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