Mike Pence dropped out of the Republican presidential campaign | Trump continues with the paved path

2023-10-29 05:01:00

Former Vice President of the United States, Mike Pence, announced this Saturday that he is withdrawing his candidacy in the Republican primaries for next year’s presidential elections.

“I come to tell you that it is clear to me that this is not my time, that is why I have decided to suspend my presidential campaign as of today,” said Pence during his speech at the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) Conference held in Las Vegas. , Snowfall. “We always knew it would be a difficult battle, but I have no regrets. I am leaving this campaign but I promise you that I will never stop fighting for conservative values,” he added before everyone present who was surprised by his loss.

In this annual event, which traditionally functions as an electoral campaign stage, the now former candidate took advantage of his speech to state his position on the war in the Middle East. “All of us who stand with Israel know that Israel has no choice but to crush Hamas. The United States must stand with Israel today and tomorrow, and through every day of fighting until Hamas is destroyed once and for all,” he said. .

Pre-candidate Nikki Haley, who addressed the audience shortly after, opened her speech with words of appreciation for Pence. “He is a good man, who fought for the United States and for Israel, and we are indebted to him,” said Washington’s former ambassador to the United Nations (UN).

little support

Pence abandoned the Republican race after experiencing a lack of sufficient support to continue. In his last public statement about his campaign accounts, he admitted debt of $600,000 and only $1.2 million in cash on hand. He also did not obtain the minimum donors – 70,000 – to be able to participate in the next Republican debate, scheduled in Miami in November. In the polls he had only 3.8% voting intention in his party according to the portal fivethirtyeight.com.

Donald Trump remains the favorite in the Republican primary polls, far ahead of his rivals, as well as far above them in fundraising. With Pence’s departure, the magnate leaves behind one of his main enemies in this race. And of those who remain, only Asa Hutchinson and Chris Christie – who barely have a chance against him – were openly critical of Trump regarding his false accusations of electoral fraud and his role in the assault on the Capitol on September 6. January 2021.

During this assault, Pence, who that day was acting as president of the Senate by virtue of his position as vice president of the country, ignored Trump’s calls to obstruct the ratification of Democrat Joe Biden as president of the United States after winning the elections.