Maybe Pence’s time was Jan. 6
Even though Mike Pence’s listeners gasped last weekend when he said he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race, the decision could not have been that surprising.
“It’s not my time,” Pence told a Republican gathering in Las Vegas.
Indeed, many Republicans have moved away from Pence’s traditional conservative message, instead following Donald Trump and his populist America First themes.
The Politico website said Pence viewed the Republican primary as a battle between conservatism and “the siren song” of populism, but Trump’s vice president was on the wrong side this year.
“His calls on the GOP to rekindle their support for international engagement amid the wars in Ukraine and Israel fell flat,” Politico reported. “His own brother, Rep. Greg Pence, would not support a recent fundraising package for the European nation.”
But probably the larger reason that Pence’s candidacy failed to pick up support this year was the unique balancing act between the party’s Trump wing and its traditional wing that he alone had to walk.
Pence was the governor of Indiana when Trump chose him as his running mate in 2016, seeing Pence as a link to the evangelical support that Trump eagerly sought. And as vice president, Pence backed Trump every step of the way for nearly four years.
Then came Jan. 6, 2021, two weeks before the president’s term ended, when Congress met as required by law to certify the election results, which showed Joe Biden as the winner.
Pence, who as vice president would lead the congressional session, faced immense pressure from Trump and his supporters to disqualify the election results in four to six states. In theory, this would deny Biden an electoral vote majority and throw the decision to the House of Representatives.
But Pence told the president he did not have the legal authority to reject any state results. That led to Trump supporters breaking into the U.S. Capitol, some chanting, “Hang Mike Pence.” The vice president and lawmakers had to retreat for their safety, and the election certification was not completed until well after midnight.
Pence’s term as vice president therefore alienated many. Anti-Trump Republicans could not forgive the first 47 months of the term, while Trump supporters have their man running again, and would not forgive his Jan. 6 decision.
Pence’s time is not 2024. But there is a presidential election every four years. Maybe he’ll have another chance later on.
It also is possible that history will note that Pence’s time was Jan. 6. His decision that day to uphold his oath of office and support the Constitution is not the same as being president. But it still is a fine way to be remembered.
