isn't just the second lady. . . she's his closest confidant and ally. >> i just can't imagine being in this process without her by my side. >> she who holds up my arms like no others, karen pence. >> since he started in indiana politics, karen pence has had a direct line to her husband. >> i know had he effectively what was a bat phone, a phone that only you could call. back when you were i guess in the state house and then in congress. >> well, this is before blackberries. the switchboard went off. >> that's a symbolic gesture of the fact that you could always communicate. is it in the west wing offers? >> it's not. >> we wanted to get a phone line that she could always reach me if votes went late. >> reporter: social media lit up after a recent washington profile unearthed a 2002 story quoting then congressman pence saying he never eats alone with a woman other than his wife. a source close to pence insists is he was trying to say he would not put himself in an awkward position when not with his wife.