Send Pence; put out a heartfelt statement regretting the passing with crocodile tears (think boo-hoo gurl), and don’t give them any ammo to use against you.
That’s the Bush approach. It’s nice, ala GOP-e, but it doesn’t work. They’re going to attack him anyway. The whole MSM pov will be that he wasn’t wanted. I am SO tired of NICE GUY. Nice guy loses.