Vice President Pence is in the top tier of candidates for the 2024 Republican Party as the Trump era approaches.
The Republican Party’s firm expectation is that Pence will run in 2024, unless Trump runs again.
A Pence candidacy would have clear assets. Pence has served Trump faithfully for the past four years, even though his personal behavior is many miles away from the president.
Theoretically, this would allow Pence to maintain Trump’s base while having a more expansive appeal. Pence proponents believe he could do better with college-educated white suburban voters who broke away from Trump, with electorally decisive effects, in the November election.
But there are plenty of GOP skeptics when it comes to Pence’s chances of prevailing as well.
Skeptics question every pillar of the argument in favor of Pence.
They are skeptical about his chances of bringing Trump voters to his side in Republican primaries, especially if other candidates compete for the same voter band.
Pence’s chances of holding “MAGA Country” against more colorful figures like Sen. Ted Cruz
Rafael (Ted) Edward Cruz George Clooney calls Trump a “charismatic carnival barker” Barr leaves behind a conflicting legacy to DOJ-elect Senator Tuberville, who suggests he will work again to challenge the Electoral College vote MONTH (R-Texas) or the governor of Florida. Ron DeSantis
Ron DeSantis: A Florida health scientist calls on the state to return confiscated equipment in a raid on DeSantis, Florida to prioritize seniors for upcoming vaccine doses Republican club interior party in Queens goes viral in the conga line MORE (R), at best, they say.
By contrast, while Pence’s deep roots in the evangelical movement are an advantage in Republican primaries, his socially conservative tension with Christianity could limit his appeal to moderate voters.
It is questionable whether college-educated suburbs will meet a man with a deeply conservative view of LGBT issues and who refuses to dine alone with a woman other than his wife.
More broadly, there is the question of whether Pence really has the charisma and pizazz to make a successful presidential candidacy.
He won six terms as an Indiana congressman and served as governor of the state. But his performance in those state elections, in 2012, was not very spectacular. He won his career by 3 points the same day he was nominated for the GOP presidency Mitt Romney
Willard (Mitt) Mitt Romney Bipartisan and bicameral group urges Trump to sign COVID-19 relief package Trump’s pardons expose another loophole in the US legal system The passage of the relief bill provokes a struggle to declare victory, attribute the blame MORE led Indiana nearly 9 points.
“It will be a stranded field and no one has really been surprised. It really hasn’t been distinguished, ”said a GOP strategist who asked for anonymity to frankly discuss Pence’s possibilities.
Questioning Pence’s ability to recreate Trump’s supportive coalition, the strategist added: “He is not a populist. He was put on the ticket because he was a Christian conservative; here is his lane. But Ted Cruz was almost on the verge of winning from there last time, and it shouldn’t be discounted. Therefore, Pence has to show that he can beat Ted in his own game, which is not easy to do.
The ambitions of the Pence White House are dashed due to the complexity of the present moment.
Trump continues to falsely insist that he won this year’s election.
Pence, in turn, has tried to support his boss, without delving into the details of what should be done.
At a conference by young conservative group Turning Point USA on Tuesday, Pence insisted that the “election contest continues” and that Trump’s team “will continue to fight until all legal votes are counted.” We will continue to fight until every illegal vote is rejected. ”
Despite these public proclamations of support, however, Axios reported Tuesday that Trump had been upset with several people in his circle, including Pence, who according to the president “was not fighting hard enough for him.”
All this means that Pence cannot be explicitly positioned for 2024.
Many Republicans say it’s important not to underestimate Pence’s chances, anyway.
“It simply came to our notice then Donald Trump
Donald TrumpPowell says White House aides will not let her help Judge Trump launch Republican lawsuit to close Georgia polls after business hours Bipartisan, bicameral group urges Trump to sign relief package COVID-19 MORE runs, but obviously [Pence] it has the support of social conservatives and fiscal conservatives, and being Donald Trump’s vice president for four years is a real advantage, ”said GOP strategist Ford O’Connell. “He’s a very strong candidate.”
Matt Mackowiak, president of the county GOP in Texas, said he believed Pence “would be a major factor in 2024. He has a national profile and will be able to raise money. He may be able to maintain a large part of Trump’s base while it spreads more widely ”.
However, there are other complications for Pence. He was the main figure of the administration in the coronavirus working group. The White House’s response to the pandemic has been widely criticized, and while most of the blame has been on Trump, Pence’s involvement could be a responsibility.
The Republican party strategist who wanted to remain anonymous also noted that loyalty to Trump is likely to only get any 2024 candidates so far, as other figures who serve or serve in the party are also expected to participate. administration.
secretary of state Mike Pompeo
Mike Pompeo: Pompey’s wife tested positive for COVID-19: Pompeo reports: US will establish diplomatic post in disputed Western Sahara administration Trump advances bomb sales to Saudis MORE and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley
Nimrata (Nikki) HaleyPat Robertson says Trump lives in “alternative reality” and that Biden will be the president of Lara Trump, who will lead Republicans in the North Carolina Senate poll in 2222. The note: Trump casts a shadow long during 2024 MORE they are two of the most mentioned names.
“I think Pence will run, but the race will have Haley, it will have Pompeo,” the strategist said.
“It would be like ending Bush’s presidency and introducing Condoleezza Rice, Dick Cheney and Don Rumsfeld.”
The Memo is a column reported by Niall Stanage.