GOP presidential candidates are being cautious not to isolate former President Donald Trump’s ardent followers, including former Vice President Mike Pence, who acknowledges he and Trump has a “falling out” but exerts no one besides Trump could have won in 2016.
Pence expressed having “every confidence” in the people of the U.S., especially “Republican primary voters,” suggesting they would select “the right standard bearer for this time.”
Pence made the statements on Wednesday (July 5) on the “Hugh Hewitt Show,” recalling that he’d said that, in the past, “nobody could have defeated Hillary Clinton in 2016” besides Trump, adding that “Republican primary voters knew that.”
Initially, Pence supported Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas over Trump in Iowa in 2016. However, he eventually became a believer in the Trump movement and campaigned alongside him with pride for four years. The former Vice President also mentioned that although they had a “falling out” towards the end, he was still proud to have served with Trump.
Pence noted that he and Trump “still have a profound difference of opinion’ regarding what he was required to do on January 6, 2021, according to his duty in the Constitution.
However, he insisted that he was” proud of that record,” adding that he believes GOP voters would “choose wisely” in 2024.
“We’re going to have the right standard bearer.”
During the debates, the differences between the candidates could be highlighted. Pence believes he has an advantage due to his experience.
The former Vice President also mentioned his experience with televised debates, specifically his one debate against VP Kamala Harris in 2020, which some people thought was successful. He now believes he may be the most qualified person to debate his former boss, Trump.
Pence recalled being asked how he envisions a debate with Trump going, noting that he always replies that he’s “debated Donald Trump 1,000 times,” highlighting the pair “had a close working relationship for four years.”
