Why did Trump choose Manafort as his Campaign Chair?

[kentuck]

I have wondered about that since the day he named him to lead his campaign??

All we knew at the time was that he had been working in the Ukraine and Russia? It seemed like an odd choice at the time.

[randr]

1. Putin chose him

just in time to change the Repug platform at the convention

[Docreed2003]

2. I would also add this tidbit...

Why was Manafort so intent on pushing Pence for the VP slot? He's the one who manipulated that situation and convinced Trump to bring him on!

[kentuck]

3. That is true.

Did they think Pence might be easier to control? Or were there something in their pasts?

[Cosmocat]

9. IMO, a couple of things

First, Pence has been the most stable, consistent and on task member of this administration by far.

Yes, he is a raging christiofacsist, but he is a 90s style GOPer, a disciplined, talking points machine. He is the only person who acts like he belongs in a Presidential administration.

Second, have you ever seen him look at 45? He looks at 45 like a girl looking at her first teenage crush, he looks like he loves him. And, he always has his back when he talks about him.

SO, functionally he has been the ideal pick for 45s VP, super loyal and one of the few who does not say or do stupid ass shit to cause any more drama.

Third - unlike most of 45s entourage, Pence is a known and trusted GOPer, so he was someone who helped to make it easier for the more traditional republican financeers to open their check book for 45s campaign.

All of that said - while he is one of the few without direct ties, he isn't some innocent babe in the woods with Russia. He is a GOP 100 percenter and clearly has no problem selling out to Russia to get the wet dream of a full on fundamentalist overtake of the country.

[get the red out]

4. I think it was FOR his Russian ties

Trump was probably happy to have someone else well-versed in working with the Russians.

[Kathy M]

6. no...... you are assuming without looking into the past

[bettyellen]

7. What do you mean? I think having "friends in common" might have sealed it? Plus not a lot of good

Folks wanted to work w Trump. His picks are just a bunch of mercenaries.

[Kathy M]

5. Not odd ......

[canetoad]

8. You know how we've all read

A million articles about Trump/Russia, campaign and so on? I read one a while back, can't remember where, that Jared pushed to get Manafort appointed. Wish I could find the link, but it's down the memory hole.

[Tatiana]

10. I don't think Trump chose him. I think he was "assigned" to the campaign.

I think he was assigned by Putin, via other Russian operatives.

[marylandblue]

11. Other people turned down the job

Leaving basically Pence and Christie, and Pence was the better choice in terms of appeal to the right wing and in the midwest.

[Gothmog]

12. Manafort was picked due to his ability to get help from Russia