...— which puts GOP contenders in awkward spot: report
https://www.rawstory.com/mike-pence-2024-2653910444/
Donald Trump's running mate for 2024 seems to be anyone but Mike Pence, but that
puts other Republicans with presidential ambitions in an awkward position.
The twice-impeached one-term president hasn't formally decided whether to seek
re-election again, but advisers say there's "zero" chance he would ask Pence to
serve as his No. 2 after refusing to overturn their election loss during the
Jan. 6 insurrection, reported Politico.
"The vice president is an incredible man and was a great vice president, but he
has a huge obstacle — problem — in trying to be the nominee after dealing with
what he's dealt with over the last six months," said one Trump adviser.
Trump's indecision has frozen the field of would-be candidates, who must
cautiously raise their national profiles without pulling the spotlight off the
former president, who retains his grip on the GOP's voters.
"The best thing you can do is be out there for yourself and fundraising and
stumping for candidates," said a Trump adviser. "74 million people isn't a base.
It's half the electorate. People are asking the wrong question — how do I keep
Trump saying my name with a smile on his face? But they need to know how they
should connect with his base."
Anyone who's out raising money or their name recognition before Trump makes his
decision risks alienating his hardcore base, and needs to be seen as essentially
running for vice president, say some GOP operatives.
"If Trump decides to get in, everyone else will fall by the wayside or say,
'Trump's the guy, we'll back out,'" said one former Trump campaign adviser.
"Because if you're seen running in the primary, that hurts you in '28, in your
own reelection — so there's a lot of calculation going into, would you want to
primary Trump or not."
*