Mike Pence's possibilities in 2016
INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is keeping his options open for the 2016 presidential race. But he looks more like a vice presidential candidate.
Pence is keeping visible with occasional appearances before conservative groups or by traveling to appropriate places, such as Iowa. He’s indicated he is ready to endorse a candidate with executive experience as a governor. He has a consistent conservative small government record, along with pro-life views that would play well in Republican primaries. The Wall Street Journal recently added to speculation about Pence with a friendly column about his presidential chances.
Yet he’s not going flat-out for the presidency the way the ultimate nominee usually does.
His hesitancy has several origins:
It’s hard to be a governor and run for president. The more he actually puts himself in the race for president, the bigger he becomes as a target of criticism for his reelection as governor in 2016. Hillary Clinton has an air of inevitability about her claim to the office her husband held. Who wants to be the loyal opposition if she is going to win anyway? The mood of the country seems to be moving left more than right.These factors likely give Pence pause about plunging into a presidential race. Yet he is clearly making himself available for the short list for the vice presidential slot, depending on the nominee. Pence would bring strong conservative and family values credentials to the GOP ticket.
He stuck to those themes in speaking to a recent conservative family values dinner. “I’m pro-life and I don’t apologize for it,” Pence said, noting five years of decline in abortions in Indiana and the lowest number of abortions since 1975.
“I want to see Indiana be the most pro-adoption state,” he added. “I will never waver in my belief in the importance of traditional marriage.”
In a time when many complain about the nasty tone of politics, Pence walks the walk of real civility with supporters and opponents. He’d be a loyal soldier and not wander off to freelance for himself.
A complication for Indiana Republicans: If nominated for vice president, Pence cannot also keep running for reelection as governor. The GOP state committee would select his replacement to run for governor, giving Democrats a better shot at winning the office they have missed out on for a decade.
Meanwhile on the Democratic Party side, Evan Bayh, a former governor and U.S. senator from the state, won’t run again for governor but is clearly available for the vice presidency with Hillary Clinton.
Maybe Bayh and Pence could wind up squaring off in an all-Indiana 2016 vice presidential debate.
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