Mike Pence launches his 2024 GOP presidential bid
Mike Pence, the former Vice President who, under the threat of supporters of Donald Trump’s then-President, certified the results for 2020 elections, launched his bid on Wednesday for the Oval Office.
Pence, former Indiana Governor and six-term Congressman, released on his 64th Birthday a video in which he took a swipe at Trump and President Joe Biden.
Pence, in a 2 1/2 minute self-narrated montage of Americana, says that “President Joe Biden has weakened America both at home and abroad.” “We can change the course of this country. Different times require different leadership.
Pence, who is addressing Trump directly, says, “Today our party and country need a leadership that will appeal to the better aspects of our nature, as Lincoln once said.”
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Later in the day, he will address supporters in Des Moines.
Former New Jersey Governor, one of three candidates who entered the GOP primary this week. Chris Christie entered the race on Tuesday. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum is expected to announce Wednesday. Doug Burgum will announce on Wednesday. Pence believes Iowa’s caucuses, the first in the nation, are fertile grounds for his traditionalist and religious conservatism.
It is clear that he will have a tough time competing for the nomination of his party, given that Trump holds a majority in national polls. Ron DeSantis comes in second place with 22,4% of the RealClearPolitics survey average.
Pence, who is behind Trump, DeSantis, and Nikki Haley (the former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N.), comes in fourth with less than 4% of the RealClearPolitics’ average.
A Pence comeback, however, would require a dramatic reversal in the political dynamics of the GOP.
Pence was hiding in the Capitol less than three years before when a mob led by Trump ransacked it. Some of the crowd, furious over his refusal of blocking the certification of 2020 defeat for the Trump-Pence ticket chanted “Hang Mike Pence!”
Pence’s support for Trump was crucial at times, especially when they first ran together in 2016. Pence’s backing was at times crucial for Trump, especially when they ran together in 2016.
The conservatives, particularly the evangelical Christians, were worried that Trump might stray away from his Republican base. Some were horrified by his conduct, such as the release of a “Access Hollywood” video in which Trump boasted about how easily he could sexually assault women without consequence.
Pence, as Indiana’s governor and in Congress, Pence sought to limit gay and abortion rights. He was a key validator of Trump.
Like the other Republicans, he now faces the enormous challenge of cutting Trump’s support, and consolidating a universe of GOP supporters who are either anti-Trump or open to another candidate.
While Pence’s name is known to nearly all voters, which would be a plus for any candidate, his low polling numbers indicate that his challenges are complicated by the fact the electorate has already formed an opinion of him.
Dan Eberhart is a GOP contributor who supports DeSantis. He said, “Mike Pence has a reputation as a conservative and an excellent public servant.” “He doesn’t have enough support from Republicans to be competitive.”
Pence’s campaign officials know that they must recast public perception of him. They hope to reintroduce Pence not as Trump’s Vice President or as the man that stood between the mobs and the Constitution, but as the conservative leadership he was at Congress and Indiana.
Pence, a supporter of President George W. Bush’s wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, has remained steadfast in supporting U.S. assistance to Ukraine, even when Trump and DeSantis questioned its wisdom.
He also stands out from the other candidates by calling for Medicare and Social Security cuts, a position popular among economic conservatives while anathema to populist Republicans.
Pence was a House member who led a rebel group against Bush’s enactment a Medicare prescription drug program. He was also an advocate of conservative-faction budgets which would have cut entitlement programs.
Pence called for a ban on abortions, a topic that has divided the GOP ever since the Supreme Court ruled against federal protections for the procedure in 2017. Trump, who appointed the three justices who voted with the majority, stopped short. DeSantis has not answered the question about whether he will sign a law outlawing abortion nationwide. He recently signed into law a Florida six-week ban.
Pence’s throwback Republican program — strong national security, reductions in expenditures and conservative social policy — allowed allies in Iowa to see a glimmer hope, which is why his campaign is being launched there.
A person familiar with Pence’s plans stated last week that “we view this race is absolutely wide open and Iowa will really solidify itself as a pivotal player.” It’s a state that values Mike Pence’s principles – traditional conservative principles – deep rooted faith and unusual character.
