“CHRISTIAN, CONSERVATIVE, REPUBLICAN”
Pence has spent much of the last two years touring early-nominating states such as Iowa, South Carolina and New Hampshire to reinforce his political vision as a “Christian, conservative, Republican – in that order.”
His entry doesn’t much change the dynamics of the race, which is divided into three lanes – runaway leader Donald Trump, Trump’s closest rival Ron DeSantis, and everyone else.
Pence is framing himself as a traditional Republican, concerned with fiscal responsibility and family values, who can deliver Trump’s policies on the economy, immigration and much else without the drama.
Marking a contrast with Trump, Pence hasn’t ruled out welfare cuts and has allied himself strongly with Ukraine. He is an abortion hardliner who has opposed same-sex marriage.
While his politics are popular within the party, critics question whether Pence has a constituency in a party that is more focused now on populism and cultural politics than traditional conservatism.
And voters sympathetic to his decision to stand up for the Constitution have other candidate choices, such as the proselytising Christian Tim Scott who do not bring with them the baggage of the Trump years.
“We all give (Pence) credit for certifying the election,” Republican strategist Sarah Longwell told Politico.
“But he also stood next to Donald Trump and normalised and validated him for four years while Trump ran roughshod over the presidency.”
“TRUMPISTS ARE ANGRY”
Florida Governor DeSantis has consistently been polling almost 20 points above Pence and is hoping to outflank Trump from the right.
But DeSantis’s poor showing in head-to-head polls has opened the floodgates, with Chris Christie due to announce on Tuesday, joining former governors Nikki Haley and Asa Hutchinson in the race.
Like Haley and DeSantis, Pence has appeared determined to avoid conflict with Trump in hopes of wooing his former supporters should the cascade of criminal investigations targeting the former president take him out of the race.
The lower-ranked candidates have also pointed out that there is a long way to go in the race.
At the equivalent point in the 2016 primary – the first two weeks of June 2015 – Trump featured in five polls that put his support at between 1 and 4 per cent.
Whether Pence can distance himself from Trump while peeling off the ex-president’s loyal base remains to be seen.
“The Trumpists are angry with him. The Never Trumpists are mad at him for his being part of the administration and support of an impeached, convicted insurrection promoter,” Republican strategist Chip Felkel told Vox.
“It’s a hard path.”
Source: CNA
