In any other year. If this were a conventional campaign in a conventional presidential election year, those observers would have a point.
But why would 'conventional' anything be relied upon when this year's presumptive nominee gained that status by figuratively sticking his middle finger up at the world in the name of making America great again?
Trump's supporters like that he rejects political correctness and uses insults to silence or nudge people out of his way. Diplomacy and tact are not what they're looking for, and by picking someone who heralds those qualities, he might leave his base thinking he was going soft. Trump said he wanted a 'fighter skilled in hand-to-hand combat.'
The mild-mannered Pence doesn't come across that way. In a 1991 essay headlined 'Confessions of a Negative Campaigner,' he pledged not to run insulting ads, saying a campaign should 'demonstrate the basic human decency of the candidate.'
Right. Critical issues like who's sweating and who's showing his disabilities and whose manhood is weaker.
'Pollsters will attest — with great conviction — that it is the negatives that move voters,' said Pence's piece published by the Indiana Policy Review, a publication of The Indiana Policy Review Foundation, which he once ran. 'The mantra of a modern political campaign is 'drive up the negatives.' … It is wrong, quite simply, because he or she could have brought critical issues before the citizenry.'
How seriously could voters take this Pence's commitment to civility if he'd joined the ticket of someone who refuses to practice it?
Also, what does it say in 2016 America, 'balance' is two straight, white, married, middle-aged, upper-income conservative men who want to shrink government?
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie would have been Trump's spiritual soul mate as VP, with his penchant for ordering people to 'sit down and shut up!' Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, the other leading VP contender, tried to outdo even Trump's anti-Islam credentials. Gingrich suggested we test all Muslim-Americans to see how they feel about Sharia law as articulated in ancient Islamic scriptures. If they agree, they're deported. No threat of sanctions against native-born Americans who are white supremacists.
Pence, by contrast, has denounced Trump's plan to ban Muslims as offensive and unconstitutional. He might help Trump in Iowa, whose caucuses Trump didn't win. Republican voters there tend to favor evangelicals, and Pence describes himself as 'a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order.'
He could gain for signing Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law last year, letting businesses refuse to serve certain customers on religious grounds. But he quickly retreated in the wake of boycott threats. He signed an amended bill that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
The events took a toll on his standing. His approval ratings in Indiana since have dropped into the 40s. By signing the law he alienated women. By signing the amendment, he ticked off evangelicals. Some criticized him for a lack of guts, others for a lack of heart. And heart is part of the balance he's supposed to bring to the Trump ticket.
And let's not forget Trump said the campaign finance system was rigged.
But Pence was a big supporter of the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, which said government could not regulate political advertising by corporations and unions, as a form of protected free 'speech.' Pence even opposed congressional attempts to require disclosing who's behind the ads.
Who knows what voters will do in November? If one thing can be said of Trump supporters, it's that they're hard to pigeonhole. Consider these anonymous confessions on the NBC website Electionconfessions. com:
'I'm a Hispanic wounded veteran who is pro gay rights & pro choice, and I'm tired of people treating me bad because I'm voting for Trump.'
'I voted for Trump and I am too embarrassed to admit it.'
'I'm only voting for Trump because of immigration.'
Maybe Trump did bring Pence in to give an appearance of balance. But he may just be the arm candy, since Trump is known for not trusting or answering to anyone but himself. How much standing will Pence actually have to challenge him? In keeping with his go-it-alone approach, as well his shifting views on most issues, Trump probably thinks he can provide his own balance, too.
Rekha Basu is a columnist for the Des Moines Register