Donald Trump has won the nomination as the Republican Party candidate for the 2016 US Presidential Election.
Few were surprised at the announcement that threatens to split the nation and the Republicans.
Trump never strays far from controversy with his incendiary remarks about Muslims, immigration and guns.
His views excite redneck America, which feels Trump is the spokesman they have never had.
However, he has antagonised just about everyone else and cannot expect much support from large segments of the population.
Running mate picked
The worry is the Brexit campaign was talked down as unlikely to win, but fickle voters made the dream for many a reality.
Trump is running with Indiana governor Mike Pence, 57.
Pence appeared from nowhere to join Trump as his choice for vice-president.
Sources in the US suggest Pence as more of a last man standing than first choice for the job as many more qualified and experienced Republicans were overlooked or declined the post.
They also point out that Trump was not Pence’s first pick as Presidential nominee after initially supporting also-ran Ted Cruz.
Trump was said to have been keen on going to the polls with Chris Christie, the New Jersey governor, or former 2012 presidential nominee Newt Gingrich who dropped out of the race to back Mitt Romney. Romney lost to Barack Obama.
Who is Mike Pence?
Their initial appearance at a rally in New York was mainly Trump-based – he spoke for more than 30 minutes about himself. Pence then said a few chosen words talking up his new boss as a ‘good man’ and someone who will make a ‘great president’.
Judging how the pair work together is hard. At the rally they shook each other’s hand and briefly spoke among each other’s family, but that was the extent of any personal relationship. Both appeared cool and unemotional.
Pence has a right wing track record – pro gun, anti-gay and hard on abortion.
As governor, Pence signed bills allowing guns to be kept in vehicles at schools, discriminated against gays. He also signed a bill that allows the State to behead criminals for offences that attract the death penalty if the victim was alive at the time of the offence.