A spokesman for former Vice President Mike Pence denied involvement in a Federal Election Commission filing, as a possible presidential run made headlines this week. The statement of candidacy remains on the FEC website, though Devin O’Malley, an advisor to Pence, said on Twitter that the former running mate to former President Donald Trump “did not file for President”.
Former Vice President Mike Pence did not file to run for President today. https://t.co/DV7PjhTD6X
— Devin O'Malley (@devin_omalley) December 26, 2022
The phony filing and swirling rumors of candidacy have not surfaced out of thin air. Pence stated in a November interview with ABC’s “World News Tonight” that he has given “prayerful consideration” to the idea of running for president in 2024.
Trump has been especially critical of Pence and said it would be “very disloyal” if the former Vice President decided to run against him. According to a poll from RealClearPolitics in December, most Republican voters would agree as only 7% would back Pence in a presidential GOP primary. Donald Trump leads the same poll with 40%.
Everyone remembers how the story ended in 2016, and there are many researchers and political analysts who see a path for Trump to not only win the primary but secure the White House once again.
With several contenders who seem to be waiting for the right time to announce, many of whom owe their political relevance to Trump himself, it doesn’t appear that any have the political strength to carry them to the White House without the former president’s endorsement — which seems unlikely, given Trump’s announcement that he will be seeking a second term in the White House.
