Has there ever been an explanation for how Trump chose Manafort as his campaign chair?

[kentuck]

I have heard that he had connections to Pence but I cannot believe Pence had any deep connections to Manafort or the crowd he hangs with? I think that may have been only a cover story?

I have also read that Trump has known Manafort since the 1980's?

But, I have not yet seen a credible explanation about how Manafort was chosen for Trump's campaign? We do know that he volunteered to do it for free but I doubt that would have been the deciding factor for Trump to choose him?

Any thoughts?

[Achilleaze]

1. "But that would be Telling." - P. Poot (R)

[kentuck]

2. You may be right?

[Phoenix61]

3. Manafort offered to work for free

for the Twilter campaign. When they were on the campaign trail, Manafort told Twitler the plane had a problem and they wouldn't be able to leave that day. That was a lie that allowed Pence to have an extra night to convince Twitler to pick him for VP. I have no idea how Manafort knew Pence but I sure would like to know.

[OnDoutside]

8. And he had an apartment in Trump Tower.

[Rene]

17. i believe Pence's brother is involved in they're encounter/actions

[Thomas Hurt]

4. His Russian creditors told him Putin thought it was a good idea.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

5. Rhymes with Stoger Rone.

Trump has known Roger Stone since 1979 due to their common connection with Roy Cohn. Stone had been business partners with Manafort since 1980, so he probably acquainted Trump with Manafort at some point in time.

In the beginning days of the Trump campaign, Stone served an official role but it became clear that he was too much of a live wire to keep on in that official role. So Stone went underground, and probably brought on the far more polished Manafort to serve in the official capacity in his absence.

[kentuck]

7. That is the most logical explanation I have heard.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

9. Manafort, Stone and the late Lee Atwater in the 1980s.

?w=600

And a lot of cold dead eyes.

[dalton99a]

10. It's a shame some are still alive

[procon]

6. If memory serves... Wasn't he recommended by Stone? nt

[Tommy_Carcetti]

11. Almost certainly the case. nt

[Leghorn21]

12. Looks as if Tom Barrack brought them together, kentuck:

Barrack supported Trump’s campaign, and shortly after Trump lost the Iowa caucuses, he reconnected with his old friend Manafort, a longtime Republican consultant.

“I really need to get to” Trump, Manafort said, according to Barrack. He told Barrack he wanted to work as Trump’s convention manager, helping him navigate what they expected would be a contentious affair.

Barrack, who had long been friendly with Kushner, as well as Trump’s daughter Ivanka, said he wrote them an email urging Trump to hire Manafort.

snip

This must have seemed like a great idea to Barrack, as he could make two good friends happy at the same time. What he almost definitely didn’t then realize is that Manafort had an ulterior motive and was a desperate man.

Much more:
https://washingtonmonthly.com/2017/10/31/what-did-thomas-barrack-know-and-when-did-he-know-it/

...Manafort and trump appear to have known each other since the ‘80s? So why it took Barrack’s machinations to bring them together, I do not know...

[kentuck]

13. +100

[bigbrother05]

16. Sounds like Barrack got Jarvanka's blessing making Manafort a slam dunk

The Dotard needed someone to tell him what a great idea he had to pick Manafort.

Not many last too long without the kids' approval.

[Princess Turandot]

14. From Wikipedia... He joined Trump's campaign team in 3/2016...

The description makes it sound as if he was keenly interested in being involved with Trump in whatever capacity. Then the Trumplunk-Russkie meeting in which he participated took place on 6/9, just 11 days before Corey Lewandowski was fired. Manafort was in place to take advantage of Lewandowski's departure.

There are several news articles linked to this excerpt on the webpage.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Manafort#Chairman_of_Donald_Trump's_2016_campaign:

In February 2016 Manafort approached Donald Trump through a mutual friend, Thomas J. Barrack Jr. He pointed out his experience advising presidential campaigns in the United States and around the world, described himself as an outsider not connected to the Washington establishment, and offered to work without salary. In March 2016 he joined Trump's presidential campaign to take the lead in getting commitments from convention delegates. On June 20, 2016, Trump fired campaign manager Corey Lewandowski and promoted Manafort to the position. Manafort gained control of the daily operations of the campaign as well as an expanded $20 million budget, hiring decisions, advertising, and media strategy.

[BSdetect]

15. It was partly to get the gop platform changed re sanctions. Traitors all.

[ffr]

18. Someone, maybe even from here on DU, showed him some love.