Tony Perkins: Donald Trump a 'likable guy' but needs Evangelical-leaning running mate
Conservative leader Tony Perkins thinks Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is "likable" but needs an Evangelical-leaning running mate to gain his endorsement.
The president of the Family Research Council sounded impressed as he spoke to reporters during a press conference that followed the closed-door meeting between more than 900 Evangelical and conservative leaders and the presidential candidate held in New York City Tuesday, June 21.
"One of the things that I've heard is 'he's not what we've seen in the media,'" said Perkins, as reported by The Christian Post.
Perkins shared how Trump seemed humble and actually listened.
"He's actually a likable guy," he said about the business mogul-turned politician. "I like him. I like what I've heard. I think this is a good start. I feel much more comfortable."
He also acknowledged the candidate's campaign money deficit but sounded unconcerned, saying what's more important is a candidate's "grassroots support" particularly of the GOP-leaning evangelical community. He noted that previous presidential hopefuls Mitt Romney and John McCain "fell short."
According to Reuters, Trump only raised $3 million and has a war chest of only $1 million as compared to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's $26 million fund and war chest of $42 million.
Perkins, however, made it clear that he's not that ready yet to give Trump his endorsement.
"Now it's important who he has around him that can advise him on the consequences of these policy decisions," said Perkins.
He cited Trump's inexperience in public office which makes his choice of running mate "extremely important." He indicated that Trump's follow-through on the GOP's conservative platforms would help him decide on the endorsement.
"When we see that come into place, that's gonna be a major factor as well," he said.
On the other hand, Evangelical leader Franklin Graham disputed reports made by Virginia-based Bishop E.W. Jackson that Graham told fellow conservative Christian leaders at the conference that Trump was a better choice than Clinton.
Graham said he only talked about how everyone has sinned and that there's no perfect person nor will there be a perfect candidate.
"You take his remarks are not directed toward Hillary Clinton but rather toward Donald Trump in considering him as a candidate," Jackson told The Christian Post.