Republican Donald Trump has selected Indiana Governor Mike Pence to be his vice-presidential running mate.

Mr Trump’s campaign planned to announce his selection on Friday, but cancelled the event because of the attack in Nice, France.

On Friday, Mr Trump confirmed the selection on Twitter.

Mr Trump hopes Mr Pence – a former congressman popular among social conservatives – can help him shore up support among wavering Republicans.

Other candidates in the running were former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

Before his current job, Mr Pence, 57, spent 12 years in Washington in the House of Representatives.

His legislative experience and position of governor of a Midwestern state could give Mr Trump advantages in the general election.

The Indiana governor is strongly anti-abortion and signed a religious freedom bill, which some saw as anti-gay, into law.

The likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton quickly responded to the selection on Friday, emphasising Mr Pence’s stances on gay rights and abortion.

The campaign hopes that Mr Pence will help boost Mr Trump’s image with social conservatives who have been unsettled by Mr Trump’s brash persona.

Mr Trump – a New York real estate tycoon who has never held elected office – has said he wants a running mate who could help him work with Congress.

However, Mr Trump and the Indiana governor differ on some key issues including the billionaire businessman’s call to ban Muslim from entering the US.

Last year, Mr Pence tweeted that Mr Trump’s plan was “offensive and unconstitutional”.

He has also expressed support for free trade agreements and was in favour of the war in Iraq, which Mr Trump says he was not.

Mr Pence also criticised Mr Trump for his attacks on Hispanic judge Gonzalo Curiel, who was born in Indiana.

Mr Trump had said Mr Curiel could not possibly rule fairly in a case against him became of his Hispanic heritage.

Source: BBC