Donald Trump appears to have settled on Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his vice presidential running mate, with an official announcement expected Friday in New York.
The Indianapolis Star reported that Pence had been chosen and a Trump campaign insider confirmed the candidate was moving in that direction, with the caveat that nothing was certain until the actual announcement.
Asked about Trump's choice, a spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, referred to a pair of Tweets send by top campaign officials insisting no decision had been made.
Pence, 57, is an Indiana native, a lawyer by training and a former talk radio host who served six terms in the House before winning the governorship in 2012.
A favorite of Christian conservatives, he has described himself as "a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order."
As governor, he focused early in his terms on education and economic issues, winning praise for his communications skills and willingness to work across the partisan aisle.
In 2015, though, he drew nationwide attention and sparked an outcry at home by signing legislation that, critics said, allowed businesses to discriminate against gays and lesbians. After initially standing by the law, Pence signed a hastily passed measure clarifying that such discrimination remained illegal.
For a time Pence considered his own run for president, in 2012 and 2016.
In May, he gave a muddled endorsement to Trump's rival, Ted Cruz, just before Indiana's crucial primary, saying he would vote for the Texas senator but heaping praise on Trump and urging Indiana Republicans to make up their minds. Trump won the contest handily, effectively clinching the GOP nomination.
Pence faces a tight deadline to end his re-election bid. State law bars him from running for governor and the vice presidency and Pence has until noon Friday to withdraw his name from the state ballot.
He was facing a competitive rematch against former House Speaker John Gregg, whom Pence edged out to win the governorship in 2012.
