August 7, 2016

Trump’s VP pick headed to NM for fundraiser

Gage Skidmore

Governor Mike Pence of Indiana speaking at the 2015 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland. cc

The Republican vice presidential nominee will travel to New Mexico to headline a high-dollar fundraiser, according to a local TV station.

Governor Mike Pence of Indiana speaking at the 2015 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland. cc

Gage Skidmore

Governor Mike Pence of Indiana speaking at the 2015 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland. cc

Mike Pence, the governor of Indiana, is Donald Trump’s running mate and will take the Republican presidential campaign to New Mexico on August 16.

The fundraiser for the Trump Victory joint fundraising group, first reported by KOB-TV, will cost $2,700 to attend. If an attendee dishes out $5,000, they will be a VIP.

Trump Victory is a joint fundraising group, which means donors can donate up over $100,000, which would go to the Republican National Committee and various state parties in addition to the Trump presidential campaign.

RNC chair Reince Priebus’ name is also on the invitation.

Kevin Daniels, who hosted a fundraiser in May for Trump, is again a host. He is the state chairman of the Trump Victory campaign and the former owner of a chain of funeral homes.

It isn’t clear if Pence will hold a public event while in the state.

Trump held his first major fundraiser in New Mexico following a May Albuquerque rally. According to an analysis of FEC data, that fundraiser didn’t appear to raise all that much money.

]The appearance by Pence will be the first presidential campaign trip to New Mexico after the June 7 primary. Ahead of the primary, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, former president Bill Clinton and Trump all campaigned in the state, in addition to a number of other public figures campaigning, largely for Hillary Clinton.

Darren White, a former sheriff and Republican candidate for Congress, backed Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson instead of Trump.

White worked as the cabinet secretary of the Department of Public Safety under Johnson but had a public falling out with Johnson after the then-governor supported legalizing marijuana. White resigned, but now he is part of a medical marijuana non-profit.

And State Sen. Lisa Torraco, a Republican from Albuquerque, announced she would also support the Johnson-Weld ticket.

The most high profile Republican in the state, Gov. Susana Martinez, has declined to endorse Trump. She also has indicated she will not vote for Hillary Clinton or Johnson.

She is the head of the Republican Governors Association, a group which seeks to elect Republicans to governorships across the country—like Trump’s running mate, Pence.

Correction: This story originally said that Daniels owns a chain of funeral homes. Daniels sold the company in 2012. We regret the error.

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