(RepublicanDaily.org) – Former vice president Mike Pence is calling it a day, announcing that he will be withdrawing from race to become the Republican presidential nominee.
Plagued by low approval and dismal support ratings throughout his campaign, Pence constantly walked a tightrope. He had to constantly manage his image with moderate conservatives who were suspicious of his prior close association with Trump while at the same time contend with the anger of the far-right, many of whom deem him a “traitor” for refusing to back Trump.
“It’s become clear to me that this is not my time,” Pence announced during a meeting of Jewish Republican donors. He acknowledged that he tried to fight an uphill battle at the beginning, but said that he had “no regrets.”
The announcement was met with gasps from the audience, who were taken aback by the news. Other Republican presidential candidates also spoke at the event, many of whom praised Pence. Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley called Pence a “good man of faith” and a “good man of service.” South Carolina Senator Tim Scott credited the former vice president as a “prayer partner, a friend, and a man of integrity.” Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie called Pence someone who was a champion of “American values” and of the “Constitution of the United States.”
As news of Pence’s withdrawal from the race reached the camp of former president Donald Trump, Pence’s former boss said that his old running mate should endorse him because “I chose him, made him vice president.” But Trump also could not resist taking a dig at Pence, who has become a staunch Trump critic in the years following the latter’s loss to President Joe Biden in 2020 – “people in politics can be very disloyal,” Trump told the crowd, many of whom were jeering “Traitor! Traitor!” at Pence.
As of press time, Pence has not announced support for any of his former rivals.
Copyright 2023, RepublicanDaily.org
