Mike Pence Unveils 2024 GOP Presidential Campaign

Facts

• Former US Vice President Mike Pence formally announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination for the 2024 election on Wednesday with a campaign kick-off event in Des Moines, Iowa.¹
• Pence joins the race, which is headlined by his former boss, Pres. Donald Trump along with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Pence's announcement falls on his 64th birthday as he faces an uphill battle of competing with a tough field.²
• In addition to DeSantis and Trump, who is leading polls for the Republican primary, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), former Gov. Nikki Haley (R-S.C.), former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, radio host Larry Elder, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy have also joined the race.³
• Since the end of his tenure in the White House, Pence has written a memoir, So Help Me God, and formed a lobby group, Advancing American Freedom. His allies formed the Committed to America Super PAC [Political Action Committee] on May 15 to support Pence’s upcoming campaign.⁴
• In terms of policy, Pence is generally considered a more traditional Republican, as he is vocally against abortion, backed cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, and fully supports giving aid to Ukraine. Pence has criticized the Biden admin., calling it a "disaster" and touted his actions while vice president under Trump.⁵
• Trump and Pence's relationship soured at the end of Trump's presidency due to Pence's refusal to block the certification of the 2020 election results and the subsequent Jan. 6 Capitol riot.⁶

Sources: ¹Reuters, ²PBS NewsHour, ³Daily Wire, ⁴Daily Caller, ⁵Daily Mail, and ⁶CNN.

Narratives

• Democratic narrative, as provided by ABC News. The GOP is still deeply infected with Trumpism, and it is unlikely that someone like Mike Pence, who is despised by many Trump supporters, has any chance of winning the primary. Though he is a more "traditional conservative," his views will be put to the test as he tries to distance himself from Trump, while also appealing to Trump's base.
• Republican narrative, as provided by FOX News. Mike Pence is a solid candidate for the Republican nomination, as he has years of experience and possesses strong conservative values. Though Trump is certainly doing well in the polls, Pence, as well as some of the other contenders like Ron DeSantis or Nikki Haley, would also be good choices to lead the country.
• Pro-Trump narrative, as provided by Breitbart. Pence simply does not stand a chance against Trump, who made Pence's career in the first place by making him vice president. Though Pence has proven that he is ready to tackle America's problems like Trump, he ultimately does not have the same flair as the former President. America doesn't want a typical Republican who will try to use the president's name to garner support.