TRUMP ANNOUNCES PENCE – AT 11:58 A.M. ET:  Donald Trump has just formally introduced Mike Pence as his vice-presidential candidate.  It was their first appearance together.  Reporters were, uh, dismayed.

Once again Donald Trump did the unconventional.  Whether it was attractive or not is up for debate.  Most presentations of vice-presidential choices are brief, focused on the chosen individual, and bland.  And most feature a lot of photo ops.  Trump, by contrast, gave a Trumpish, belligerent, somewhat rambling speech lasting 28 minutes, speaking mostly about himself, but also going through Pence's excellent record in Indiana.  He bashed Hillary unmercifully, to the point where Pence seemed almost an asterisk.  He then introduced Pence, who spoke much more briefly and conventionally, and well.  There was only a brief photo op. 

I wonder if Pence was wondering why he was there.

And yet, it is Trump's unconventionality that has proved so effective, at least so far.  He gets his next shot this week when he accepts the Republican nomination in Cleveland.  The whole country will be watching.  He can be unconventional, but he has to show that he can be president as well.  That is Trump's toughest challenge. 

July 16, 2016