How exciting... what exactly does he bring? Indiana is already a safe state??
Indiana did go for 0bama in 2008, 49.9 to 48.9, but it went for Romney by over 10 points in 2012.
I think that Pence may have some appeal to OH, MI, PA, and WI, maybe even IL.
I understand the reasoning behind bringing in an establishment VP as a counterweight. This will deter the RNC and the rest of the GOP political machine from secretly helping Hillary and sabotaging Trump's campaign as they would likely otherwise do.
However, if Trump needed an establishment type for VP, you're right that picking one from a swing state like OH or PA would have been a better move.
I don't know much about him.
Pence is respected nationally in the GOP, while still being a conservative. This is a party unity pick and defuses the NeverTrump idiots.
Pence unlike Newt has executive experience running a state. If there is one thing that is obvious. Candidates with no executive experience make horrible presidents and candidates.
He has media experience being a radio host.
And he has experience in the Congress and he is a bit younger then Newt. That is important.
It’s about winning hearts and minds, especially in the rustbelt states that have been hammered by relentless outsourcing of jobs and capital.
Trump has a clear message: make America great again.
Notice that his message does not include making the 1% great by contacting communist chinese and socialist mexican labor at gunpoint for pennies on the dollar.