I can’t keep up with all the Republicans who have hinted they might put their names forward for the nomination, so two questions:
Was Governor Pence considering putting his name forward?
If so, what impact will the recent religious freedom bill have on his chances?
He had sometimes been Mentioned by the Mentioners, along with Kasich, as running-mate material, and even for the top office, as a sop to the responsible-adult wing of the party. But he hadn’t been doing anything reportable by way of lining up donors and volunteers etc., which has to be well underway by now by anyone who recognizes they have to work for the nomination.
If there’s a way he can recover from his national image as pro-discrimination, his record of bumbling handling of the situation does not suggest he can follow it.
My guess is yes, for the VP slot. He thought by signing the religion bill he’d have a minor controversy but successfully pander to the right.
If he was, those days are long gone. “There’s nothing wrong with it, I’ll fix it!” makes one yearn for an intellectual Hoosier like Dan Quayle. His awkward silence at the start of one of his statements was comedy gold, eerily similar to the opening scene of The King’s Speech.
Gotta admit.
He’s screwed with the younger Republican set because they’re in favor of SSM and against discrimination.
He’s screwed with the religious conservatives because he didn’t stand his ground.
It’s the problem with the GOP in a nutshell. Good luck to Pence. Maybe he can be senator or something after he stops being governor.
Time magazine says in the latest issue that he was indeed mulling over a run, but the RFRA flap has probably closed that door.