Trump presents VP running mate Mike Pence

A day later than originally planned, Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee unveiled Saturday his vice presidential running mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence.

But it did not come without a long and winding introduction, in which Trump devoted considerable time to attacking his presumed democratic opponent.

"Hillary Clinton is the embodiment of corruption," he said, "totally bought and paid for by Wall Street, special interests and lobbyists."

He slammed the recent conclusions by the FBI and the Justice Department that neither Hillary Clinton, nor anyone associated with her, had committed a crime, despite her "careless" handling of emails, Trump said.

"She got away with murder," he said glibly. "I think it might be her greatest accomplishment."

A strident conservative

When he finally got around to introducing his running mate, the arch-conservative governor from the mid-western state of Indiana, Trump heaped praise on the man who endorsed a rival during the Republican primary.

"Mike Pence is my first choice," Trump said. "I've admired the work he's done. I also admire the fact he fights for the people and he's going to fight for you. He is a solid, solid person."

Trump referenced Pence's 12 years as a US Congressman, including the leadership post, as well as Pence's ongoing work as governor.

"He's really got the skills of a highly talented executive leading Indiana to jobs growth and opportunities despite obstacles put in his way by the Obama administration, including higher taxes and regulation."

On the eve of his selection, Trump found himself presiding over a bitterly divided party, with many establishment republicans questioning his fitness to lead.

Former Florida governor Jeb Bush, who was the party favorite when the campaign kicked off more than a year ago, slammed Trump in an opinion piece published Friday in the Washington Post.

He accused Trump of continuing "to grotesquely manipulate the deeply felt anger of many Americans," Bush wrote. "Trump's abrasive, know nothing-like nativist rhetoric has blocked out sober discourse about how to tackle America's big challenges."

The sober choice

Of Trump's final three candidates for running mate, Pence is widely seen as the most sober choice, an evangelical Christian who is a quintessential conservative candidate. Pence, who endorsed Trump's rival, fellow evangelical Ted Cruz just ahead of the Indiana primary, said he is thrilled to be Trump's running mate.

"People who know me well know I'm a pretty basic guy," he said. "I'm a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order."

He soon ticked off his conservative bona fides.

"I opposed 'no child left' behind and the Wall Street bailout," he said, referring to an educational program intended to help disadvantaged children, which was actually implemented by fellow conservative George W. Bush.

Likewise, the Wall Street bailout was put forth by the Bush administration to stave off mass bankruptcies.

"We opposed Obama Care, tax increases, cap and trade, and was part of the team that won the Congress back from Dem control in 2010," he added.

But his new task, helping Trump win the White House, will be much more challenging.