Former Vice President Mike Pence announced the suspension of his campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, citing challenges in gaining momentum and fundraising. Speaking at the Republican Jewish Coalition gathering in Las Vegas on Saturday, Pence stated, “After much prayer and deliberation, I have decided to suspend my campaign for president effective today.” This move sidesteps the potential embarrassment of not qualifying for the upcoming Nov. 8 Republican primary debate in Miami.
Pence’s tenure as former President Donald Trump’s loyal deputy was overshadowed by the final days of their administration when Trump erroneously believed Pence could overturn the 2020 election results. While Pence resisted this unconstitutional push, it garnered the ire of Trump and many of his supporters. Simultaneously, critics saw Pence as an unwavering enabler of Trump. An August survey by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed 57% of U.S. adults held a negative view of Pence.
Despite his extensive political connections, Pence faced fundraising challenges, reporting only $1.18 million on hand and $621,000 in debt as of September. Strategically, Pence aimed to gain traction in Iowa by focusing on religious and socially conservative themes, but success eluded him. While his campaign ends, Pence’s influence is anticipated to persist through Advancing American Freedom, his conservative think tank which promotes policies such as increased U.S. support for Ukraine and cuts to Social Security and Medicare.
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