Aiming for Friday announcement, Trump narrows his VP list

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has reached the final phase of his search for a running mate, narrowing his list to three leading contenders and directing his staff to prepare for a Friday announcement.

Along with Gingrich, a boisterous rabble-rouser who has spent decades in Washington, the finalists include Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, a steady, staunch conservative who would help to calm nervous Republicans wary of Trump's style, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a one-time rival who has become one of Trump's most trusted advisers.

Introducing Trump at a rally in Westfield, Indiana, on Tuesday evening, Pence received an enthusiastic reception as he compared Trump to Republican icon Ronald Reagan and dug into Trump's likely Democrat rival, Hillary Clinton.

Trump told The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday he is looking for a "fighter skilled in hand-to-hand combat" as his second-in-command, but hadn't seen enough of Pence to measure his fight.

"Not only does he fulfill Trump's requirement for a running mate with political experience, he also is CEO of a company called Indiana," Caputo said.

Fox News Channel added to the speculation Tuesday when it said it had suspended its contributor agreement with Gingrich "due to the intense media speculation" about his potential to join Trump's ticket.