Former Vice President Mike Pence cites Bible verse to explain decision to suspend campaign
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Former Vice President Mike Pence suspended his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination on Saturday, nearly five months after formally launching it in early June.
Pence shared the news at a Republican Jewish Coalition gathering in Las Vegas, according to The Associated Press, noting that he has no regrets.
“The Bible tell us that there’s a time for every purpose under heaven, and traveling across the country for the past six months, I came here to say it’s become clear to me this is not my time. So after much prayer and deliberation, I have decided to suspend my campaign for president effective today,” he said.
“We always knew this would be an uphill battle, but I have no regrets,” he said.
He didn’t endorse any of the other Republican candidates during his speech, but he did say he would continue to help elect “principled” Republicans.
“Now I’m leaving this campaign, but let me promise you, I will never leave the fight for conservative values and I will never stop fighting to elect principled Republican leaders to every office in the land,” Pence said.
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Pence, who went from serving alongside former President Donald Trump to openly criticizing him on the campaign trail, struggled to connect with Republican voters.
Those who were loyal to Trump resented Pence’s decision to help certify the results of the 2020 election, while anti-Trumpers resented his willingness to remain loyal to the former president for so long.
“An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research from August found that the majority of U.S. adults, 57%, viewed Pence negatively, with only 28% having a positive view,” The Associated Press reported.
Poll results like those help explain why Pence’s campaign has been short on money in recent weeks, according to NBC News.
“Fundraising struggles plagued Pence’s campaign, with its latest campaign finance filing showing $600,000 in debt and only $1.2 million cash on hand. After scrambling to meet the donor thresholds for the first two Republican primary debates but making the stage, the campaign was unable to gain the 70,000 individual donors needed for the third,” NBC News reported.
Mike Pence 2024
Pence, a former Indiana governor, is a religious conservative who spoke regularly about faith-related issues like abortion during his campaign.
He called for a federal ban on abortion after six weeks and urged other Republican candidates seeking the presidential nomination to agree to at least a 15-week federal ban, according to The Associated Press. He also said that abortion shouldn’t be an option even in the case of an unviable pregnancy.
Pence has also been outspoken about his support for Israel during the ongoing Israel-Hamas War. His spokesman, Devin O’Malley, told NBC News that Pence chose to announce his suspended campaign at the Republican Jewish Coalition meeting because of the connection between the conflict in Israel and Pence’s pitch to voters.
“The conflict in Israel is a microcosm of what Pence has been evangelizing regarding populism and traditional conservative values. RJC provided him one last opportunity to make that case and do so in front of a supportive audience,” O’Malley told NBC News.
Pence reiterated his support for Israel on Saturday before transitioning to his surprising campaign announcement.
“I came here to be with so many friends to express my unwavering support for Israel, but permit me to close on a personal note,” he said.
He went on to share highlights of his experience on the campaign trail, and to call on his listeners to focus on values like faith and family and to champion civility.
“I urge you to hold fast to what matters most: faith, family and the constitution of the United States of America,” Pence said.
While he didn’t endorse another candidate, he seemed to suggest the Republican Party needs to move on from former President Donald Trump.
“So I urge all my fellow Republicans here, give our country a Republican standard bearer that will, as Lincoln said, appeal to the better angels of our nature. And not only lead us to victory, but lead our nation with civility back to the time-honored principles that have always made America strong, and prosperous and free.”
Chris Christie, the former New Jersey governor who is currently campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination, reacted to Pence’s announcement on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, thanking the former vice president for his service to the United States.
“I am beyond grateful for everything (Mike Pence) has done for this country. He has consistently fought for American values from his time in Congress to his governorship and serving the American people as Vice President. Mike Pence stood for the constitution of the United States. He deserves our thanks as Americans for putting his oath of office and the Constitution of the United States before personal and political pressure,” Christie said.
