By Melody Gutierrez
July 14, 2016 Updated: July 14, 2016 7:58pm
http://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Pence-would-be-good-VP-choice-for-Trump-s-base-8379297.php
SACRAMENTO — Republican operatives praised Donald Trump’s apparent selection of Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his running mate, saying Thursday the pick would be a smart and measured move from the typically bombastic candidate.
For their part, Democrats and the LGBT community not only panned Trump’s pick, but said Pence’s record is filled with antigay, antiabortion measures, which they hope will mobilize their own base.
Pence was widely reported to be Trump’s pick for vice president Thursday, even though the Republican presidential candidate’s campaign warned that nothing had been solidified.
Trump was scheduled to announce his choice Friday morning in New York, just days before the Republican National Convention begins in Cleveland, but postponed it after the news of the attack in Nice, France, Thursday. Trump was also reported to be considering former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, but Pence became the front-runner in recent days.
“I think his selection would be widely hailed by Republican activists, elected officials and donors,” said California Republican Party Chairman Jim Brulte. “He’s from the Midwest, and the Midwest holds the key to this election.”
Political career
Pence, 57, ran two unsuccessful campaigns for the House of Representatives in 1988 and 1990, before becoming a syndicated radio show host. In 2000, he was elected to Congress and went on to win five additional terms, where his track record on conservative issues made him popular with the far right and religious groups. He was elected governor of Indiana in 2012 and is facing a tough re-election battle this year.
“For the base, it’s terrific,” said Larry Gerston, a retired political science professor at San Jose State University. “Pence is about as conservative as you get.”
Outside of Indiana, Pence isn’t a household name, despite being thrust into the national spotlight last year when he signed a law that allowed businesses in Indiana to refuse to serve gay patrons based on religious grounds.
“He has always adhered to principled constitutional conservatism,” said David Bozell, president of the conservative advocacy group ForAmerica.
Pence faced severe political backlash after signing the law, which the Indianapolis convention and visitors’ bureau said cost the state more than $60 million in future business as companies boycotted the state.
“For LGBT voters, it’s really troubling,” said Brandon Lorenz of Human Rights Campaign, a Washington, D.C., LGBT advocacy group. “If Mike Pence is known outside of Indiana it’s for one reason and one reason only: It’s because he tried to write discrimination into state law. Any national profile he has is for that reason.”
‘LGBT-phobic’
Rick Zbur, executive director of Equality California, said: “I think Mike Pence has been one of the most LGBT-phobic people on the national stage. I guess I’m not surprised given the campaign Donald Trump has waged.”
“Gov. Pence’s attacks on the LGBT community are nothing short of reprehensible,” Chiu said. “His anti-LGBT stances round out Trump’s hostility toward immigrants, women and people of color.”
GOP strategists said Pence will help with evangelical Christians and social conservatives, who have questioned Trump’s mixed record on gay rights and his own philandering past.
Pence also stands out as a solid fundraiser, which could provide a needed boost for the Trump campaign. He could bring in money from conservative donors who have previously been leery of Trump.
“Pence is probably the smartest pick of the known finalists,” said GOP strategist Rob Stutzman. “He’s probably the most statesmanlike. He’s popular with conservatives and would be an articulate, well-reasoned campaigner. It’s the first demonstration by Trump that he’s willing to reach out to people who didn’t support him in the primary.”
Backed Cruz
Pence endorsed Ted Cruz in the primary. In December, he criticized Trump’s calls for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the country, saying the proposal was “offensive and unconstitutional.”
Stutzman said for many voters, the vice presidential pick isn’t a deal breaker. Even for him, it won’t be. Stutzman said he won’t be voting for Trump or Hillary Clinton. He may write in a candidate instead.
“He’s a disastrous candidate,” Stutzman said. “But, I can’t find anything critical to say about his vice presidential pick. Of those who were willing to do the job, I think he’s the most sensible.”
Democratic strategist and Clinton delegate Steve Maviglio said Pence may bring in some more Republican votes, but the selection won’t do anything for critical swing voters.
“It solidifies his base, but it doesn’t broaden it,” Maviglio said. “To have any chance of winning, he has to go beyond the angry white voter, and that’s exactly what he put on his ticket. It’s not like Pence is a popular governor in his own state.”
Melody Gutierrez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mgutierrez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MelodyGutierrez