Pence: I’ll campaign for Trump anywhere, anytime

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence said Monday that he would gladly campaign for Republican candidate Donald Trump in Indiana—or anywhere else, for that matter.

"I'm prepared to make that case anywhere across Indiana and anywhere across this country that Donald Trump would want me to," said Pence, who is considered a leading candidate to be Trump's running mate.

In the immediate future, however, Pence will stick with playing host at a downtown Indianapolis fundraiser and making an appearance at a Westfield campaign rally that will be held Tuesday when the presumptive Republican presidential nominee visits Indiana.

Trump and Pence are both expected at a campaign fundraiser at 5:30 p.m. in downtown Indianapolis, where requested contributions range from $2,700 a person to $250,000 per couple. That will be followed by a 7:30 p.m. rally in Westfield at the Grand Park Events Center, which has an attendance capacity of 15,000.

The billionaire businessman is expected to name his vice presidential pick in the coming days and the campaign appearances with Pence would be the latest in a series of joint appearances Trump has held with vice presidential prospects. While Pence is viewed as a leading candidate, Trump is considering several others as well, including New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

In the meantime, Pence has been modest and somewhat coy. He has also deflected questions about whether he would take the job if offered.

"I look forward to joining him there (in Westfield) and if he wants me to bring a few words, I'd be happy to," he told reporters Monday.

Still, the coming days could see a major shake-up in Indiana politics if Pence is chosen. And any decision by Trump comes right up against a noon Friday deadline for Pence to withdraw his candidacy for governor.

Already GOP politicians are jockeying behind the scenes to best position themselves to become Pence's replacement, should he join the national ticket.

Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb, a former state Republican chairman and top aide to former Gov. Mitch Daniels, is viewed as one possible replacement. So, too, is GOP House Speaker Brian Bosma and U.S. Reps. Susan Brooks and Todd Rokita.

If Pence leaves the governor's race, the Indiana Republican Party will have 30 days to replace him.