Given the recent revelations about Paul Manafort, I thought this would be good to bring to everyone’s attention. Mike Pence is the Vice President because of Paul Manafort’s effort. During the transition period, Manafort was apparently talking regularly on the phone with Mike Pence, especially about personnel choices.
CBS News October 30th: Donald Trump offered Chris Christie vice president role before Mike Pence, sources say
Manafort had arranged for Trump to meet with his [Manafort’s] first choice for the job on July 13: Indiana Governor Mike Pence. Afterwards, the plan was for Trump and Pence to then fly back to New York together and a formal announcement would be made, a campaign source said of Manafort’s thinking.
What had previously been reported as a “lucky break” by the New York Times was actually a swift political maneuver devised by the now fired campaign manager. Set on changing Trump’s mind, he concocted a story that Trump’s plane had mechanical problems, forcing the soon-to-be Republican nominee to stay the night in Indianapolis for breakfast with the Pence family on Wednesday morning.
Swayed by Pence’s aggressive pitch, Trump agreed to ditch Christie and make Pence his VP the following day, according to a source.
Daily Beast, November 30th "Paul Manafort Is Back and Advising Donald Trump on Cabinet Picks"
According to two sources with knowledge of the Trump presidential transition process, Manafort—whose formal association with the president-elect ended in August—is heavily involved with the staffing of the nascent administration.
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“I think he’s weighing in on everything,” the former official said, “I think he still talks to Trump every day. I mean, Pence? That was all Manafort. Pence is on the phone with Manafort regularly.”
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Another Trump campaign source who worked alongside Manafort confirmed to The Daily Beast that he is heavily involved in selecting the incoming administration’s “personnel picks.”
