In the Shadow of More Fiery Rivals, Pence Leans Into Civility Politics
Former Vice President Mike Pence is making a strategic move towards civility politics as he tries to distinguish himself from his more aggressive rivals in the race for the Republican nomination. While former President Donald J. Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida are commanding attention in Iowa with their brasher style of politicking, Pence is focusing on emphasizing his loyalty to the Constitution and invoking his faith to win over evangelical voters.
During a round table with Christian college and university presidents in Ankeny, Iowa, Pence highlighted his commitment to integrity and his reliance on faith in decision-making. Mary Jo Brown, a former teacher at Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary, expressed her support for Pence, stating that his faith guided his actions on January 6th and that she would stand by him if he can overcome the challenges he faces.
However, recent polling shows that Pence is polling at a distant sixth place in Iowa, far behind contenders like Trump and DeSantis. Despite his efforts to appeal to evangelical voters, Pence has the same 3 percent support among white evangelicals in Iowa as he does among the larger field of Republican caucusgoers.
To bolster his appeal, Pence highlighted his role in the appointment of three conservative justices to the Supreme Court during his time as vice president. He assured the Christian education leaders that they could have confidence in a pro-religious majority on the Supreme Court, citing his interviews with Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.
In a notable moment, Pence shared an anecdote about his relationship with the late Democratic congressman John Lewis. Despite their political differences, Pence referred to Lewis as a “great man” and emphasized their mutual respect for each other as men of faith. This stands in stark contrast to how Trump downplayed Lewis’s accomplishments after his death.
While Pence’s focus on civility politics may set him apart from his rivals, he still faces an uphill battle in gaining traction among voters. As the race for the Republican nomination heats up, it remains to be seen whether Pence’s emphasis on integrity, faith, and civility will be enough to propel him to the forefront of the race.
How is Mike Pence differentiating himself from his more aggressive competitors in the Republican nomination race?
In the Shadow of More Fiery Rivals, Pence Embraces Civility Politics
Former Vice President Mike Pence is shifting his strategy towards civility politics in an attempt to differentiate himself from his more aggressive competitors in the race for the Republican nomination. While Former President Donald J. Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida are grabbing attention in Iowa with their bold and confrontational approach to politics, Pence is focusing on highlighting his loyalty to the Constitution and appealing to evangelical voters with his strong faith.
During a round table discussion with Christian college and university presidents in Ankeny, Iowa, Pence emphasized his commitment to integrity and his reliance on faith when making decisions. One of the attendees, Mary Jo Brown, a former teacher at Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary, expressed her support for Pence, stating that his faith guided his actions on January 6th and that she would stand by him as he faces challenges.
However, recent polls show that Pence is polling a distant sixth place in Iowa, lagging far behind contenders like Trump and DeSantis. Despite his efforts to connect with evangelical voters, Pence’s support among white evangelicals in Iowa remains at 3 percent, the same as his support among the larger field of Republican caucusgoers.
To strengthen his appeal, Pence emphasized his role in the appointment of three conservative justices to the Supreme Court during his tenure as vice president. He assured the Christian education leaders that they could trust a pro-religious majority on the Supreme Court, citing his interviews with Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.
In a noteworthy moment, Pence shared an anecdote about his relationship with the late Democratic congressman John Lewis. Despite their political differences, Pence referred to Lewis as a “great man” and highlighted their mutual respect as men of faith. This stands in stark contrast to Trump’s dismissal of Lewis’s accomplishments after his passing.
While Pence’s focus on civility politics may set him apart from his rivals, he still faces an uphill battle in gaining traction among voters. As the race for the Republican nomination intensifies, it remains to be seen whether Pence’s emphasis on integrity, faith, and civility will be enough to propel him to the forefront of the race.
