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Mike Pence tipped to be ‘most powerful Vice President in history’ under inexperienced Donald Trump presidency

HE’S been eclipsed by his bombastic running mate during the campaign, but now that Donald Trump is President-elect, Mike Pence is due to become a crucial figure on the global stage during the next four years.

Here’s what you need to know about him.

CONSERVATIVE TO THE CORE

The Indiana governor, 57, is married to wife Karen and has three children; Michael, Charlotte and Audrey.

He is an evangelical Christian who has described himself as “a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order” and began his introduction to Trump’s victory with a religious message.

“I come to this moment deeply humbled and grateful to God for his amazing grace,” he said.

He used to work as a right-wing radio host where he described himself as “Rush Limbaugh on decaf”. The trained lawyer has served as a member of Congress for 15 years and as Indiana governor since 2013.

Mr Pence initially supported Ted Cruz in the primary and is considered a friend by Republican Speaker Paul Ryan.

Vice President-elect Mike Pence and Republican president-elect Donald Trump barely knew each other before their campaign and Mr Pence initially backed Ted Cruz. Picture: Mark Wilson/Getty Images/AFP
Vice President-elect Mike Pence and Republican president-elect Donald Trump barely knew each other before their campaign and Mr Pence initially backed Ted Cruz. Picture: Mark Wilson/Getty Images/AFPSource:AFP

CALM AND CONTROLLED

Pence is renowned for his “disciplined” demeanour and communication skills and has proved a “bridge” to the Republican establishment for Donald Trump.

He has been described as “all the things Trump could not be” and is expected to hold a powerful role in a Trump administration due to the fact the President-elect has no experience in office.

A friend of Pence’s, Gary Bauer, told the New York Post, Trump has signalled that Mr Pence “is going to be one of the most influential and powerful vice-presidents in modern American history — and maybe American history.”

“Trump sees himself as a public face of taking on draining of the swamp, but a lot of the day-to-day may end up in Pence’s portfolio.”

“We’re seeing the melding of Reagan conservatism, personified by Pence, with Reagan’s conservative populism, personified by Donald Trump,” he said.

HE LIKES BROAD SHOULDERS

We’re not quite sure why.
 

GAY RIGHTS UNDER FIRE

Mr Pence is seen as a classic Conservative in the economic sense and has come under fire for his beliefs on abortion and religious freedoms.

He believes that being gay is a choice and has voted against a law that banned discrimination of people based on their sexual orientation. In 2010 he expressed support for the military policy of not allowing soldiers to be openly gay.

In 2015 he signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law in 2015 which was meant to allow business owners “religious liberty” but was criticised by Apple CEO Tim Cook for discriminating against gay, bisexual and transgender workers.

He has also said he is “pro-life” and will not apologise for it, but disagreed that women should be “punished” for abortions as Trump said, before later backflipping.

Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana is tipped to hold a powerful VP role given Trump’s lack of experience. Picture: AP Photo/Mary Altaffer.
Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana is tipped to hold a powerful VP role given Trump’s lack of experience. Picture: AP Photo/Mary Altaffer.Source:AP

HE’S NOT AFRAID TO DISAGREE WITH TRUMP

He clashed with Trump a number of times during the campaign, expressing different views on everything from Syria to Russian hacks, to the “p***y” comments from the Access Hollywood tape.

On the assault Mr Trump bragged about, Mr Pence said “I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them.” He also defended the Goldstar family Mr Trump insulted by saying they should be “cherished by every American”.

He called the President-elect’s ban on Muslims entering the US “offensive and unconstitutional” and believed Russia was implicated in the hacks against Democratic Party.

“I think there’s no question that the evidence continues to point in that direction,” he said. “There should be severe consequences to Russia or any sovereign nation that is compromising the privacy or the security of the United States of America.”

The two also crossed wires on Syria, with Pence saying the US should move military force if Russia continued to support President Assad, against Mr Trump’s comments.

On whether or not the election result would be respected, Mr Pence was adamant it would, despite Trump’s insistent tweets it was “rigged”.

Mr Trump’s team is currently assembling a list of names for a potential cabinet which includes former New Jersey governor Chis Christie and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, as well as former House speaker Newt Gingrich.

Follow the latest on the election results at news.com.au.

Source: News Corp Australia Network:

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