Former Vice President Mike Pence has not formally declared whether or not he'll launch a 2024 presidential run, however he has taken a number of steps that point out he's ready to face former President Donald Trump for the Republican nomination if he runs too.
The previous president's operating mate and second in command has taken a number of steps to distance himself from Trump ever since they each left workplace in 2021, together with rebuking Trump's suggestion earlier this 12 months that he had the facility to overturn the 2020 presidential election outcomes.
"President Trump is unsuitable. I had no proper to overturn the election," Pence stated throughout a February speech earlier than the Federalist Society in Florida. "The presidency belongs to the American folks, and the American folks alone. Frankly there may be virtually no concept extra un-American than the notion that anybody particular person may select the American president."
In latest months, Pence has made a number of symbolic strikes which might be elevating his profile within the political sphere and establishing himself as a foil to Trump in key methods. This contains his April go to to the Charlottesville, Virginia, memorial for Heather Heyer, who was killed in a white supremacist riot through which Trump notably attributed the blame to "each side." And this week, Pence is about to assist rally for Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, who Trump has denounced as a "RINO" (Republican in identify solely).
Politico described Pence's plans to talk on the Georgia rally as his "most aggressive political transfer but in defiance of his former patron and ticket-mate."
In March this 12 months, whereas talking to Fox Enterprise Community's Maria Bartiromo, Pence refused to rule out the potential for a 2024 run.
"I am assured the Republican Social gathering will nominate a candidate who would be the subsequent president of the USA of America and on the proper time, my household and I'll replicate and contemplate how we'd take part in that course of," he stated.
Although Trump additionally has but to formally announce whether or not he'll run in 2024, he has teased a possible bid. Whereas talking about the potential for once more turning into a presidential candidate throughout a March rally in Georgia, he stated: "We simply could need to do it once more."
He additionally reiterated unproven claims of voter fraud within the 2020 election on the Georgia rally.
"The reality is I ran twice, I received twice and I did significantly better the second time. And now we simply could need to do it once more," he advised the gang.
Trump spokesperson Taylor Budowich criticized Pence's latest political strikes in a press release shared with theNew York Occasions.
"Mike Pence was set to lose a governor's race in 2016 earlier than he was plucked up and his political profession was salvaged," the assertion learn. "Now, determined to chase his misplaced relevance, Pence is parachuting into races, hoping somebody is paying consideration. The truth is, President Trump is already 82-3 along with his endorsements, and there is nothing stopping him from saving America in 2022 and past."
Even when Pence is making ready for a 2024 presidential run in opposition to Trump, the possibilities of him beating out the previous president could also be slim. A Harvard CAPS/Harris ballot from late January this 12 months discovered that Trump acquired 57 % of GOP assist, whereas Pence acquired 11 %.
Newsweek reached out to Pence's crew and a Trump spokesperson for remark.
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