By Sara Murray, Jim Acosta and Eric Bradner
WASHINGTON — (CNN) Donald Trump is putting his finalists for the vice presidential nod through one more test: winning the approval of his family.
The presumptive Republican nominee and his family are in Indianapolis Wednesday as they hold a frantic round of last-minute meetings and phone calls with Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions.
Many of the huddles are taking place in person in Indiana, where Trump remained Wednesday following a rally with Pence on Tuesday. Trump and his children Eric, Don Jr. and Ivanka, as well as her husband, Jared Kushner, had breakfast at the Indiana governor’s mansion with Pence.
Then, the family returned to the Conrad hotel downtown — with Sessions en route to Indianapolis.
“We’ll have a visit I think,” Sessions told CNN’s Sunlen Serfaty.
Meanwhile, Christie and Trump have already spoken by phone on Wednesday regarding the VP role. And Gingrich and Trump are meeting in Indianapolis — at the request of the former speaker.
The flurry of activity comes as Trump is expected to announce his running mate on Friday. The state of play is fluid as Trump closes in on his decision. One of the biggest questions surrounding the choice is whether Trump will pick someone with a reputation as a fighter or someone who may be viewed as a safer political partner.
One source said Trump wants a “fighter” and Christie fits the bill.
“I’m getting attacked from all sides,” Trump told The Wall Street Journal Tuesday.
Speed-dating Pence
Trump and Pence met privately before a fundraiser in Indianapolis on Tuesday evening, and then Pence got a try-out at a rally in nearby Westfield.
The meetings continued afterward. The Trumps and Pences dined at The Capital Grille, staying past midnight. Then Wednesday morning, Trump and his family had breakfast with the Pences at the governor’s mansion before Trump returned to the Conrad hotel.
When CNN asked how the breakfast with Pence went, Trump gave a thumbs-up. A Trump adviser described the breakfast between Trump and the Indiana Governor as “cordial” but added that the billionaire had yet to finalize his decision on a running mate.
Pence is next scheduled to attend an event in Fort Wayne, two hours northeast of Indianapolis, at 1 p.m. ET, followed by an event in Muncie at 4 p.m. ET.
The meetings and rally gave Trump an up-close look at how Pence — who has strong allies in the Koch brothers’ fundraising network and is viewed favorably by social conservatives — would perform in an attack dog role.
At the rally, Pence slammed Clinton, saying that “to paraphrase the director of the FBI, I think it would be ‘extremely careless’ to elect Hillary Clinton as president.”
Earlier in the day, Pence had lavished Trump with praise, comparing him to Ronald Reagan and used the phrase “make America great again” when he spoke with reporters after an event in Indianapolis.
“I think he is someone who has connected with everyday Americans like no one since Ronald Reagan,” Pence said. “I think he has spoken into the frustration and the longings of the American people as no one since the 40th president, and I think you’re going to continue to see him do that.”
A Trump adviser however disputed conventional wisdom that Pence could steady or moderate the voluble Republican presumptive nominee on the stump. Inf fact, this person said, having him as a more temperate running mate could prompt Trump to become even more bombastic.
“Mike is not going to go and defend Trump the way he needs it — the way a Newt or a Christie would, or even the way a Sessions has,” the adviser said.
Sessions among other contenders
Another candidate, Sessions, is en route to Indianapolis — traveling without any aides.
Some donors are pressuring Trump to pick Gingrich as his vice president. A source close to Sheldon Adelson told CNN that the casino magnate spoke to Trump and said that “he liked Newt.”
Trump even reached out again to Condoleezza Rice, the secretary of state under former President George W. Bush, after a donor encouraged him to make the call over the weekend — even though Rice has made clear she doesn’t want the job.
Christie meets Ivanka
As Trump headed to Indiana, Christie, the New Jersey governor, met with Ivanka Trump at Trump Tower on Tuesday.
Trump and Christie, meanwhile, are scheduled to speak by phone Wednesday, two sources told CNN.
The strongest argument for Christie, in his camp’s mind: He’s the most effective attack dog — a quality he’s proven in speeches and on the presidential primary debate stage.
However, sources said it’s clear Kushner opposes the idea of Christie — though the two have developed a working relationship in recent months.
“It’s obviously out there and it doesn’t help. We’re just not sure if it hurts,” a source close to Christie said.
According to another source familiar with the process, Christie is interested in the vice president job but not “campaigning for it.”
The source said Christie has not heard from Trump regarding his decision or the timing.
“It’s clearly serious. He’s clearly in the final group,” the source said.
A Trump adviser said this is essentially a last chance for these guys to each make their pitch.
“That’s exactly what these guys are doing right now – is saying ‘here’s why I’m better than X.’”
In addition to Christie’s governing experience, this source said Christie’s skills on the debate stage and the campaign trail could be appealing to Trump.
“He’s a gifted debater,” the source said, and “the most publicity that any VP candidate is going to get is the debate.”
The-CNN-Wire ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.
(Photo: CNN)
