All signs point to Mike Pence entering the Republican presidential primary race

AP Photo/Franc Zhurda

A super PAC has launched to help Mike Pence in his ambition to be president. “Committed to America” PAC executive director is a former Brian Kemp strategist who plans to use the governor’s playbook in a national race.

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The new PAC can raise unlimited donations and can set the stage for Pence’s run for president. It is expected to begin building infrastructure in key primary states soon, along with running television ads. The PAC’s director is Bobby Saparow, credited with engineering Georgia Governor Brian Kemp’s huge victory over former U.S. Senator David Perdue in last year’s gubernatorial primary. Perdue was Trump’s pick in the primary. Pence backed Kemp and campaigned for him. Pence’s decision to endorse Kemp pointed to the political rift between Trump and Pence.

Pence has not made a formal announcement one way or the other on if he is going to run. He is making all the moves, though, that a candidate would make leading up to a campaign launch. He’s written a book and done the book tour across the country. He’s regularly doing interviews on television and coyly saying a decision will come soon. Getting Saparow on his team with the super PAC is a strong move in that direction, too. Saparow said the PAC is “more than just a paid media effort.” They are going to do for Pence what they did for Kemp. “We are taking what we did so successfully with Governor Kemp to the national stage, mobilizing an unprecedented voter contact program to win and make Mike Pence the next president of the United States,” he said. Pence has said in interviews that his decision will be made “well before late June.” A campaign launch would probably come in June.

Pence is stuck in single-digits in national polls. He would not only be running against his former boss, the former president, but he would likely face Governor Ron DeSantis, the country’s most successful Republican governor – even more successful at this point than Kemp. There are some strong Republican governors right now and DeSantis has a stellar record of accomplishments as the Florida Legislature’s session comes to a close. However, Pence’s supporters think that his high name recognition and his long record in conservative politics will boost his chances. Pence is also popular among evangelical voters. That is a group who has soured on Trump.

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Pence is keeping a busy schedule visiting early-voting states and battlegrounds, including churches like the one he recently visited in Atlanta. Last month he spoke at the Church of the Apostles. He is a long-time friend of the church’s pastor, Dr. Michael Yousseff. The church’s congregation is over 3,000 members.

He shared a testimony of God’s faithfulness, his journey to Christianity, and his hope for the country.

“Let’s have faith that the best days for this nation are yet to come, but let’s pray. Let’s pray for the American people every day,” Pence said.

“Committed to America” publicly launches today.

“The country’s at real crossroads and the Republican Party needs a strong conservative candidate who can win,” said Scott Reed, the longtime GOP consultant, who will co-chair the group. “Pence has the experience, the unparalleled character, communication skills and the conservative credentials to win both the nomination and a general election.”

Reed will co-chair the PAC. His previous experience includes serving as political director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He managed Bob Dole’s 1996 presidential campaign. Reed will be joined by former Texas Rep. Jeb Hensarling, who had a close friendship with Pence when they both served in the House. Hensarling is the former chair of the House Republican Conference. Mike Ricci will oversee communications. He previously served as communications director to former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan.

His supporters think that if voters are reminded of Pence’s career experiences and his character and conservative cred, they will move toward him. For now, Pence is most known as Trump’s vice-president. Pence is also a former congressman, talk radio host, and Indiana governor. The biggest hurdle for Pence, as I see it, is that he is a solidly Establishment-type of Republican. In past years that would be a plus but since the Trump years, it is a hinderance. The people coming out in support of Pence, like those involved in the super PAC, are old-school kind of Republicans that the new, more populist Republican Party shuns. Pence is associated more with yesterday than tomorrow. Voters look ahead, not behind.

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So far the GOP field includes Trump, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, Asa Hutchinson, and Larry Elder. Senator Tim Scott is expected to enter the primary race at a much publicized rally in his hometown of North Charleston, South Carolina next week. I see Hutchinson with the same problems that Pence has – yesterday’s Republican. Voters want fresh faces and fresh blood running for top leadership positions, including president. Most voters don’t want either Trump or Biden to run again, yet Trump is the hands-down favorite right now in the GOP primary. Pence’s super PAC supporters are optimistic.

“People know Mike Pence, they just don’t know him well,” Reed said. “This campaign is going to reintroduce Mike Pence to the country as his own man, not as vice president, but as a true economic, social and national security conservative — a Reagan conservative.”

The group sees early-voting Iowa as critical for Pence and plans to launch their efforts there before expanding to other states, including New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.

“We’re going to organize Iowa, all 99 counties, like we’re running him for county sheriff,” said Reed.

The PAC is counting on caucus-voters who identify as Evangelical Christians to support Pence, a fellow Midwesterner. Maybe they will but I don’t think it will be enough. Pence is a good man and he’s served his constituents well in the past. However, I don’t see him catching fire in the primary battle. He’s a solid conservative but he’s yesterday’s conservative. That will be his biggest hurdle.

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