Is Pence saying he has a better chance of winning with Trump than he does being re-elected in Indiana?
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Pence and his campaign for re-election as governor of IN have been thrown into a frenzy since his meeting with Republican candidate for president, Donald Trump, IN New Jersey last weekend.
Pence offers a strong liking from conservatives nationwide, some leery of a Trump presidency.
As many as 10 people have expressed interest in running for governor if Pence isn’t on the ticket, including House Speaker Brian Bosma, Congressman Todd Rokita and Indiana Auditor Suzanne Crouch.
A staunch conservative and seasoned politician with connections both inside and outside of Washington, D.C., Pence could ameliorate Trump’s image among both establishment Republicans and social conservatives, constituencies that have both been reluctant to climb aboard the Trump Train.
“I can’t tell you how honored we are as a family to be considered at that level, but my focus really is IN right now”, Pence said.
Trump is expected to name his choice in the coming days.
In May, a Free Enterprise PAC poll of the state’s gubernatorial race found Pence losing to Democratic challenger John Gregg, 59 percent to 21 percent, among women under age 45.
“Mike Pence would make a very good VP”, said Club for Growth President David McIntosh, who like Pence is a former IN congressman.
So going with Pence would indicate Team Trump has decided consolidating GOP support is its top priority.
Seat said the state GOP party is “blessed and cursed” with such a deep bench of talent, “meaning we find ourselves picking from a group of individuals that many states would fight over”. After all, Pence didn’t say thanks but no thanks, as some of the other possible vice presidential candidates have. Ted Cruz over Trump in the GOP primaries also said the selection of Pence could help unite the party.
The controversy over the Religious Freedom bill caused Pence’s support in the state to plummet.
A decision on whether or not Pence will be on the national ticket must be made by next Friday, the deadline for him to withdraw from the governor’s race.
Pence’s stop in Decatur County included a stop by the Letts Volunteer Fire Department fair booth for their locally famous fish sandwich and a tour of the fairgrounds and livestock show.
They point out that Pence previously had presidential ambitions of his own, even though he ruled out a run previous year after his approval rating slumped as a result of handling of the state’s religious objections law.
An Indiana native, Pence is a lawyer by trade.
“Mike Pence has a record of sticking to his principles”, she said.
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Jim Jess, vice chairman of the Georgia Tea Party, said conservatives are concerned Trump will trample on the Constitutional limits of presidential power, just as Obama has done with executive orders on immigration and gun control.
