Mike Pence Honors 'Orange Bowling' Tradition Aboard 'Trump Force 2'

It's an unusual tradition between press and candidates.

ByABC News
August 5, 2016, 3:42 PM

— -- It’s an age-old ritual on the campaign trail: “Orange bowling,” as some call it, has members of the press rolling oranges up the aisle of the plane they are traveling on, in the direction of whatever candidate they are covering. Typically, reporters will use the opportunity to ask a lighthearted question.

And while this election cycle has been anything but traditional, on Thursday evening Donald Trump’s running mate Mike Pence chose to humor reporters traveling aboard his plane, nicknamed "Trump Force 2".

After a long day of back and forth between the campaign and reporters over whether Pence would be endorsing John McCain (he eventually did), reporters rolled Pence an orange asking him what his favorite Sixpence None the Richer song was.

The band was popular in the '90s, with its most recognizable songs being “There She Goes” and “Kiss Me.”

With some luck, a network embed managed to get the fruit to bounce off a few seats lining the aisle to successfully make it to the row where Pence and his wife were sitting.

Amused, Pence picked the fruit up and huddled with his daughter, nephew and a couple staffers. After a few minutes, Pence skillfully rolled the orange back to reporters.

His response: “Christmas for Two, #HillarylovesNickelback.”

The Nickelback reference was a nod to a Ted Cruz protester who would show up at rallies with signs claiming the Texas senator likes the band, which is often mocked.

Reached a day later, Leigh Nash, the lead singer of Sixpence None the Richer said, "I'm flattered he's a fan, despite my feelings about the ticket he's on." Nickelback did not respond to a request for comment.

Mitt Romney, Ronald Reagan, and Hillary Clinton (in 2008) have all bowled oranges on their planes in previous cycles.

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