‘s surprising withdrawal from the Republican presidential nomination race on Saturday is seen as a natural progression in the crowded field, according to rivals of the former vice-president. This unexpected turn of events could potentially aid their efforts to challenge the overwhelming frontrunner, .
“As everyone predicted, the race is narrowing,” said former New Jersey , one of Trump’s most vocal Republican critics who has qualified for a third TV debate next month. It remains uncertain whether Pence, who stated in an interview with CNN’s State of the Union that he ran a challenging but commendable race, would have been part of this debate.
Pence’s decision to withdraw early may have been influenced by difficulties in fundraising. He announced his departure from the race, acknowledging that it had become evident that he did not have a path to victory. However, he expressed his commitment to helping elect “principled Republican leaders”.
Christie, who currently holds a 3.1% support in primary polling, highlighted Pence’s fundamental misalignment – accepting Trump as his running mate in 2016, opposing him on January 6th, and simultaneously defending his administration while urging the party to return to conservative values and move away from Trump’s populism.
“There are people who want to have it both ways,” Christie continued in his comments to CNN. “They want to support him…on the other hand, they want to go after him.”
However, Christie himself faces the burden of having sought a cabinet appointment in the Trump administration in 2016.
The exit of Pence is expected to benefit former South Carolina governor . In a recent speech, the former US ambassador to the UN lauded Pence as a “good man of faith” who had fought for America and Israel. Haley’s polling numbers are on the rise, fueled by endorsements from Republicans ready to break with Trump.
“She’s breaking through at the right moment,” remarked Republican strategist Mike Murphy to Politico last week. “Everything else has been ridiculous preseason coverage… I think it all starts now.”
According to FiveThirtyEight, Haley is currently polling nationally at 8% among registered Republican voters, placing her in third position behind Florida governor , who is at 14%. However, DeSantis’ support is declining. In the key early primary state of New Hampshire, Haley leads DeSantis with 19% compared to his 10%, as per a recent survey by the Boston Globe.
Despite this, both DeSantis and Haley, alongside Vivek Ramaswamy and Christie, still significantly trail behind Trump, who enjoys 58% support nationally. Trump’s support only seems to grow with each legal challenge he faces.
Governor DeSantis also showed support for Pence, calling him “a principled man of faith who has worked tirelessly to advance the conservative cause” in a tweet.
After Pence’s withdrawal, Trump publicly called for his endorsement, highlighting his successful presidency and insinuating that Pence should endorse him. However, the former president also took a dig at his Christian fundamentalist ex-VP for not assisting in overturning the 2020 election and for delaying the confirmation vote until after the Capitol had been cleared of protesters on January 6th.
“People in politics can be very disloyal,” remarked Trump at a rally in Sioux City, Iowa, according to The Hill.
Pence’s exit serves as a reminder of Trump’s influence within the party. Former vice-presidents are typically seen as formidable primary challengers, but in recent years, this assumption has been challenged. Al Gore, Dick Cheney, Joe Biden, and now Pence have not automatically sought to transition from the vice-presidency to the presidency.
ABC News political contributor Donna Brazile emphasized that Pence failed to resonate with voters, a former vice-president who struggled to gain traction, raise funds, or differentiate himself. “He tried to change the dynamics of the Republican party, but it’s not changing. It’s now behind Donald Trump, come trial or tribulations,” Brazile noted.
