Mike Pence, the former vice president under Donald Trump, has announced the suspension of his campaign to become the Republican nominee for the 2024 presidential election. Pence made this surprising announcement at an event organized by the Republican Jewish Coalition in Las Vegas, citing that it was not his time to run for president.
Struggling to Meet Requirements
Pence’s decision to step down came as he trailed far behind the frontrunner, Donald Trump, and struggled to meet the requirements for the third GOP debate due to insufficient campaign donations.
Not My Time
In a candid moment during his speech, Pence stated, “I came here to say it’s become clear to me this is not my time, so after much prayer and deliberation, I have decided to suspend my campaign for president, effective today.”
A Less Than Fiery Speech
While some may have expected a fiery campaign speech, Pence took a different route. As a Christian hard-right conservative, he invoked a biblical reference instead.
A Time for Every Purpose
Pence said, “The Bible tells us there is a time for every purpose under heaven, and this is not my time.” This announcement surprised the audience, even leading to a collective gasp.
Still in the Fight
However, Pence clarified that he would continue fighting for conservative values and the election of principled Republican leaders. The crowd responded with cheers and applause, seeming to appreciate his commitment.
The Split Between Trump and Pence
Pence’s campaign for the presidency had struggled to gain momentum.
Despite being a loyal vice-president to Trump during his controversial term, their relationship became strained after Pence refused to reject Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory during the certification process on January 6, 2021.
A Deep Divide
Trump’s subsequent criticism of Pence on social media, along with the attack on the U.S. Capitol by extremists, created a deep divide between them.
Pence Vs. Trump
In his campaign launch in June, Pence criticized Trump’s actions on January 6, calling them “reckless.”
He emphasized his congressional and gubernatorial record, highlighting his stance against abortion, fiscal conservatism, and strong foreign policy views.
Proud to Stand by Trump
Pence reminded the audience of his time as vice president, declaring, “I was proud to stand by President Donald Trump every day.” However, he also disapproved of Trump’s demand to choose loyalty over the Constitution.
Loyalty to the Constitution
Pence said, “The American people deserve to know that on that day [6 January 2021], President Trump also demanded that I choose between him and the constitution … And anyone who asked someone else to put them over the constitution should never be president of the United States again.”
Financially Difficulties
Pence’s political identity as a Christian, conservative, and Republican was clearly defined.
However, his inability to secure support from anti-Trump Republican primary voters and donors, coupled with his low standing in opinion polls, led to the financial difficulties that ultimately forced him to suspend his campaign.
$600,000 In Debt
When Pence revealed his third-quarter fundraising totals, it became apparent that his campaign was struggling financially, with $620,000 in debt and just $1.2 million cash on hand.
Falling Short
Pence’s campaign fell far short of other more successful Republican rivals, making it impossible for him to continue in the race any longer.
No Second Chances
While some former vice presidents have successfully transitioned into presidential nominees, Pence’s journey ended with this decision, and many doubt he will be able to run for president a second time.
The Future GOP Nominee
His departure leaves the 2024 Republican nomination race with key contenders like Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis as the Republican Party continues to chart its course toward the next presidential election.
Public Response
The public response to Pence’s withdrawal from his presidential campaign seems less than supportive, with many questioning why he was running in the first place.
First of Many
One social media user said, “Mike Pence just dropped out the 2024 race. We’re going to see more of this as candidates fail to gain traction in the GOP primary. It’s still Trump’s race to lose, unfortunately.”
No Chance
A second user said, “The deplorables hate him because he stood up to Trump one time after Dan Quayle repeatedly told him he had no choice. Every decent person hates him because he’s a spineless, ignorant Christofascist. He had no chance.”
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The post “After Much Prayer and Deliberation, I Have Decided To Suspend My Campaign for President” – Former VP Mike Pence Shocks GOP Amid Struggles and Trump Fallout first appeared on Wealthy Living.
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