Former Vice President Mike Pence’s White House campaign is beset by woes as he has failed to generate enthusiasm, resulting in dismal fundraising numbers that could put him in jeopardy of not making the cut for the first Republican presidential debate next month.
According to media reports, Pence has only managed to raise a measly $1.2 million for his campaign which launched in early June, a major disappointment considering his national name recognition, raising serious questions about his viability in a crowded field of contenders in which his ex-boss, former Donald J. Trump has a massive lead and is cruising toward the party’s nomination with a full head of steam, although anything can still happen with an entire year until the Republican National Convention next summer.
Pence has also reportedly amassed another $2.6 million raised by Committed to America, a Super PAC supporting his presidential bid, putting the total at $3.8 million and even worse for the former veep is that he has not met the donor threshold that would qualify him for the initial televised debate set to take place in Milwaukee in August.
“Mr. Pence’s campaign is fighting to qualify for the first televised Republican presidential debate next month in Milwaukee. An aide said he had not yet received donations from 40,000 donors, the threshold required to make the debate stage,” the New York Times reported.
I believe in the American people, and I have faith God is not done with America yet. Together, we can bring this Country back, and the best days for the Greatest Nation on Earth are yet to come! #Pence2024 pic.twitter.com/A8EkqgCDAm
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) June 7, 2023
By contrast, Fox News reports that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis “brought in an impressive $20 million in fundraising during the first six weeks of his campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, his political team told Fox News last week. Never Back Down, the super PAC supporting the Florida governor’s presidential run, also told Fox News that it has hauled in $130 million in fundraising since the committee launched in early March.”
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley’s campaign and two “aligned political committees brought in $7.3 million during the April-June second quarter of 2023,” the outlet reported, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie raked in “$7.5 million in the first 25 days following his June campaign launch,” pulling in dough from those who are banking on him being the human torpedo that will sink Trump.
Extreme long shot, Doug Burgum, the governor of North Dakota, reported raising “$11.7 million in the 23 days from June 7 — when the governor declared his candidacy for president — through the end of the month,” which included a $10.2 million personal investment according to figures shared with Fox News.
Trump, who is way in front of the rest of the pack in terms of poll numbers “hauled in more than $35 million during the April-June second quarter of 2023 fundraising,” his campaign told Fox News.
Fundraising isn’t Pence’s only problem as his warmongering support of the Zelensky regime in Ukraine and his comments directed at Trump over the so-called “insurrection” on January 6, 2021, aren’t exactly endearing him to the GOP’s “America First” base.
It also didn’t help his cause when he crashed and burned during his appearance at Friday’s FAMiLY Leadership Summit in the critical early voting state of Iowa while being grilled by former Fox News host Tucker Carlson who interviewed a number of the top Republican candidates.
Pence came across as disingenuous and defensive, verbally sparring with Carlson over Ukraine and at one point, committing what could be a catastrophic gaffe when he bumbled his response to being confronted on why sending tanks to Zelensky was a priority at a time when major cities are deteriorating at home.
Tucker: “Every city in America has become worse over the past few years… Your concern is that Ukraine don’t have enough tanks… Where’s the concern for America in that?”
Pence: “That’s not my concern.” pic.twitter.com/u2RlmmrhtM
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) July 14, 2023
“That’s not my concern,” he said, a remark that quickly went viral, and while Pence later pointed out, it wasn’t his entire answer, the damage was already done by his inability to think on his feet to avoid serving up such a poorly worded response.
“Mr. Pence’s repeated defense of his actions to certify Mr. Trump’s defeat before Congress on Jan. 6, 2021, has alienated him from Mr. Trump’s loyal base without appearing to win many converts from the wing of the Republican Party that wants to move on from the former president,” according to the New York Times.
Pence was already facing a rough road to the GOP nomination but now it’s looking even rockier.
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