Pence Withdraws from the 2024 Presidential Race Dominated by Trump

 Pence Withdraws from the 2024 Presidential Race Dominated by Trump

Former Vice President Mike Pence, who spent four years faithfully serving President Donald J. Trump but refused to comply with Mr. Trump's demand to block the 2020 election results, announced the end of his presidential campaign on a surprising note. Pence urged his party to return to conservative principles and resist the allure of populism.

The unexpected announcement came at the conclusion of his speech before a gathering of Jewish Republican donors in Las Vegas, leaving the audience in astonishment. Pence began his address with a strong endorsement of Israel's military actions in Gaza, but then, in a more personal tone, revealed his decision to exit the race, stating, "It's become clear to me that this is not my time." He reassured the crowd of 1,500 that he would never abandon the fight for conservative values.

Nikki Haley, former ambassador to the United Nations and a crowd favorite, spoke in praise of Pence, adding her appreciation for his faith, service, and support for America and Israel.

Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, another candidate in the race, described Pence as a prayer partner, friend, and a man of integrity. Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey, commended Pence for consistently advocating for American values and upholding the U.S. Constitution.

Notably, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida did not mention the former vice president in his remarks but issued a statement calling Pence a "principled man of faith."

Eric Levine, a Republican Jewish Coalition board member, hailed Pence's announcement as an act of patriotism.

Pence's exit from the race occurred less than 90 days before the Iowa caucuses, where he had pinned his hopes. However, Mr. Trump continued to dominate in Iowa, emphasizing the challenge of challenging the former president in a crowded field.

Pence was the highest-profile candidate to leave the race and the first to meet the Republican National Committee's criteria for primary debates. He had not yet qualified for the November 8 debate in Miami, which required meeting a polling threshold and having 70,000 unique donors. Pence's campaign had recently reported over $600,000 in debt.

Since entering the race in June, Pence aimed to rally support from the Trump-era Republican Party, emphasizing conservative principles akin to President Ronald Reagan. He focused on fiscal discipline, preserving the post-World War II order, opposing government interference in business, and taking a firm stance against abortion.

However, Pence struggled to raise funds and gain traction in the polls, as many Republican voters echoed Mr. Trump's false claims of widespread fraud. Pence walked a fine line between critiquing Mr. Trump's attempts to cling to power and defending their administration's policies.

As Pence's campaign unfolded, Mr. Trump faced two indictments related to efforts to subvert President Biden's 2020 victory. Trump had pressured Pence to reject Biden's Electoral College win, culminating in a pro-Trump mob attacking the Capitol on January 6, 2021, with some in the mob chanting "Hang Mike Pence!"

Pence received praise from those who saw Mr. Trump as a threat to democracy, but he faced questions from Republican voters about why he did not try to overturn the election in Trump's favor.

Pence became more vocal in criticizing Mr. Trump as the campaign progressed. Following a terrorist attack by Hamas against Israelis, Pence accused Trump and some of his rivals of "appeasement" for their isolationist approach to international affairs.

Pence is expected to be a key witness for federal prosecutors in Mr. Trump's trial, scheduled to begin in March, on charges related to his efforts to remain in power.

In concluding his speech to the Republican Jewish Coalition, Pence emphasized the importance of trying, even if it meant falling short, and urged Republicans to choose a standard-bearer who would appeal to "the better angels of our nature," in a clear reference to Mr. Trump's behavior.