The campaign stop in the Republican stronghold of Waukesha is Pence’s first solo stop since becoming Donald Trump’s running mate nearly two weeks ago.
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Holcomb says the work to convince voters that he should be governor begins now and he will seek out the advice and recommendations from the state committee on the next steps, including the search for a lieutenant governor.
Meanwhile, Holcomb’s fellow Republicans praised the state committee’s choice. Meanwhile, Holcomb, who does have the endorsement of Mike Pence, has around 100 days to raise money and build a campaign.
Shortly after the state party’s decision to nominate Holcomb was announced, Rokita and Brooks said they loved their districts and are proud to run again. Gregg has collected large sums from labor unions, who’ve been angered in recent years by the Republican-backed right-to-work law and the contentious repeal of Indiana’s law for setting wages on public construction projects. “And that translates into financial support and other campaign resources and his campaign that I was part of before he was tapped [to be Donald Trump’s VP]”.
Holcomb spent 10 months running for this year’s Republican U.S. Senate nomination but had little fundraising success before he dropped out to accept the lieutenant governor appointment. “It was about those failed policies”, said Gregg, “I’m the one candidate that didn’t start out and hadn’t switched horses a couple of times along the race”. “I won’t sacrifice my core principles but we need to be more together”.
But some observers said that criticism may not stick, since Holcomb wasn’t even in office when Pence took his hardest hits for his socially conservative stances.
Gregg says the change in opponent doesn’t change his message.
“The campaign now officially kicks into high gear”, said Holcomb earlier on Tuesday, “Some may say they’re going to see my name out there too much. Eric Holcomb is just another out-of-touch ideologue who will hurt the middle class and undermine Hoosier values”.
Once Donald Trump named Pence as his vice presidential nominee, Pence’s allies lobbied state Republican insiders to replace him on the ballot with Holcomb.
Holcomb beat out Congresswoman Susan Brooks from the Indianapolis area and Congressman Todd Rokita from north central Indiana. Each of these leaders is talented, hard-working and committed to improving the lives of all Hoosiers.
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“I’m still John Gregg and I’m the only one who’s running for governor who has been running for governor”.
