WASHINGTON: Former US Vice President Mike Pence, who turned against his former boss Donald Trump over the 2021 Capitol Hill attack, officially launched his bid for the 2024 presidential race via a video announcement on Wednesday, posing a challenge to the former president as a Republican contender.
In the video, released from Iowa where he initiated his campaign, Pence portrayed himself as a Reagan Republican seeking to restore conservative principles in the United States. This makes him the first vice president in modern times to stand against his former boss, who is also running for president in 2024. Pence’s team believes that launching his campaign in Iowa will help secure the Republican nomination for the presidency. He will also participate in a CNN Town Hall on Wednesday.
Pence stated in the video, “It would be easy to stay on the sidelines. But that’s not how I was raised. That’s why today, before God and my family, I’m announcing I’m running for president of the United States.”
The rift between Pence and Trump emerged when Pence refused to overturn the 2020 election results and chaired the Congress in certifying Joe Biden as the victor on January 6, 2021.
In his video announcement, the 64-year-old emphasized the need for different leadership in these times and a leader who appeals to the better angels of the nation’s nature, quoting Lincoln. Pence expressed his vision to revive the economy, secure the border, defend liberties, and bring the country back on a path to a balanced budget.
Presidential Race Between Trump and Mike Pence
Pence’s official launch follows his filing of the necessary paperwork on Monday to initiate his presidential campaign. The former vice president, who served under the 2016 US administration, joins a race that has been dominated by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and 76-year-old Trump, both with more typically conservative viewpoints. Pence’s longstanding reputation as a steadfast conservative was solidified during his tenure of over ten years in the US House, including one term as governor of Indiana, according to CNBC.
However, Pence faces significant obstacles in his bid for the White House as he seeks the support of a party that remains largely devoted to Trump. While polling has shown Pence performing better than some of his competitors, he has garnered “low to mid-single digits” in support, according to reports.
Furthermore, Pence has become a target for other Republicans due to his disagreement with Trump regarding the 2020 election. Recent polling indicates that a higher percentage of Republican registered voters hold a negative opinion of Pence compared to Trump, DeSantis, and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley.
Despite Trump’s declining support within the Republican establishment following the Capitol riot and the 2022 midterm elections, he remains the Republican to beat in the 2024 primary. Polls indicate that Trump leads among potential primary rivals and maintains a strong hold on the GOP base, which constitutes a significant portion of the electorate.
Before announcing his campaign, Pence subtly criticized Trump, suggesting that there would be “better candidates” than the former president in 2024. He also attributed the GOP’s underperformance in the 2022 midterms to candidates who focused on relitigating the previous election, a clear reference to Trump, who has made the denial of the 2020 election results a central theme of his 2024 campaign.