Mike Pence, former vice president, drops out of Republican presidential campaign

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Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence brought his financially challenged presidential campaign to a close on Saturday. Over the past few months, he faced considerable difficulties in persuading Republican voters that he was a superior choice to the man he had previously served with unwavering loyalty, Donald Trump.

Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence surprised attendees at the Republican Jewish Coalition donor conference in Las Vegas by announcing the suspension of his cash-strapped presidential campaign. This move made him the first prominent candidate to exit the race, as Donald Trump maintains a strong lead as the frontrunner.

Pence stated, "Traveling across the country over the past six months, I've come to the conclusion that it's not my time. So, after much prayer and consideration, I've decided to suspend my campaign for president, effective today." His announcement initially elicited gasps from the audience, followed by extended applause and cheers of support.

During his speech, Pence did not explicitly endorse any candidate, but he appeared to indirectly criticize his former boss, Donald Trump, by urging fellow Republicans to choose a presidential nominee who would, as Abraham Lincoln suggested, appeal to the better nature of the American people and lead with civility.

When asked about endorsing Trump, a source close to Pence responded with laughter.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Trump, who spoke after Pence's announcement, did not mention him in their speeches. Nikki Haley praised Pence as a champion for both America and Israel, while DeSantis later posted on social media that Pence was a "principled man of faith."

It's expected that more candidates may follow Pence's lead and exit the race, consolidating the field of contenders. Donors who were seeking alternatives to Trump have been cautious about contributing, given the crowded field of over half a dozen candidates.

Donald Trump's substantial lead in the polls might render these developments inconsequential. Additionally, some candidates could choose to remain in the race for an extended period. No clear alternative to Trump has emerged, and DeSantis' campaign has struggled since its disappointing start.

Pence's campaign was destined to face challenges from the outset. He publicly distanced himself from Trump, criticizing the former president for his role in the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol insurrection. Pence took a principled stance, believing that Republican primary voters would reward him for adhering to the U.S. Constitution rather than following Trump's directives to overturn the 2020 election results. However, Trump's supporters never forgave Pence for overseeing the certification of Joe Biden's election victory.

In opinion polls, Trump has built one of the largest primary leads in U.S. electoral history. These polls indicate that most Republican voters either support or are indifferent to Trump's false claims about the 2020 election being stolen from him and his attempts to overturn the result.

Pence announced his White House bid in June but struggled to garner enough support from primary voters and donors. His candidacy remained in the low single digits in polls.

As a campaigner, Pence lacked charisma and faced financial difficulties by October. Despite investing time and resources in Iowa, the first Republican nominating state, he failed to gain significant traction.

In the third quarter of 2023, Pence's campaign reported a $620,000 debt and only $1.2 million in cash on hand. This was considerably less than several other Republican rivals and insufficient for a competitive White House race.

Historically, former vice presidents who have competed for the White House nomination have often succeeded, including George H.W. Bush in 1988 and Al Gore in 2000. President Joe Biden himself served as vice president to Barack Obama. However, Pence's campaign faced formidable competition from Trump, as well as other candidates who resonated more with primary voters and donors, such as Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis.

Pence ran as a traditional conservative, advocating for both social and fiscal conservatism and emphasizing a hawkish foreign policy approach. His campaign included calls for increased military assistance to Ukraine and reductions in welfare spending. However, this brand of Republicanism was overshadowed by the rise of Trump-style populism and "America First" isolationism in the party.