(FreedomBeacon.com)- Last Wednesday, former Vice President Mike Pence was in South Carolina delivering a speech at the Florence Baptist Temple where he outlined his vision for America.
Pence discussed the next steps in the fight against abortion, reforming the tax code, and the dangers posed by Democrats.
In short, it was very much a political stump speech.
While Pence has not officially said he is running for president in 2024, most Republican advisors and allies believe the former VP is paving the way for a run. Pence has only said that his decision will not be influenced by whether or not Donald Trump runs again.
Former Speaker Newt Gingrich told the New York Times it is “unfortunate” that Mike Pence and Donald Trump fell out because Pence “had been a very loyal and I think very effectual vice president.”
Gingrich added that Mike Pence “is carving out a space for himself” apart from Trump.
Last week, Pence delivered remarks to the Republican Study Committee where he received an ovation for defending his decision to refuse to bend to Trump’s demands to stop the certification of the 2020 election.
The Trump/Pence divide has been playing out during the 2022 primary races as well.
In May, Pence campaigned with Georgia Governor Brian Kemp on the eve of the primary. Kemp went on to defeat Trump’s endorsed challenger, David Purdue.
And last Friday, Pence traveled to Arizona to campaign for Republican gubernatorial primary candidate Karrin Taylor Robson. Meanwhile, Trump was in the state on Friday as well, campaigning for Robson’s opponent, Kari Lake.
According to former Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway, Mike Pence is clearly laying the groundwork for a future presidential run either in 2024 or 2028. She said the former vice president is “in demand and on message,” two things Conway believes are important.
At the same time, early polling, though never particularly reliable at this stage, doesn’t show a groundswell of support for a Pence 2024 run.
Nonetheless, Pence has been making regular trips to the early primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina while also keeping himself out there by campaigning for Republican midterm candidates.
