“Pence supporters see a lane for a reliable conservative who espouses many of the previous administration’s policies but without the constant tumult. While he frequently lauds the accomplishments of the ‘Trump-Pence administration,’ a Pence nomination in many ways would be a return to positions long associated with the Republican establishment but abandoned as Trump reshaped the party in his image. Pence has warned against the growing populist tide in the party, and advisers see him as the only traditional, Reagan-style conservative in the race.”
“As vice president, Pence had been an exceedingly loyal defender of Trump until the days leading up to Jan. 6, 2021, when Trump falsely tried to convince Pence and his supporters that Pence had the power to unilaterally overturn the results of the 2020 election. That day, a mob of Trump’s supporters violently stormed the U.S. Capitol building after being spurred on by Trump’s lies that the 2020 election had been stolen. Many in the crowd chanted ‘Hang Mike Pence!’ as Pence, his staff and his family ran for safety, hiding in a Senate loading dock.”
It’s also possible that candidates like Chris Christie, Nikki Haley, Mike Pence and Asa Hutchinson are all banking on the idea that scandals and legal troubles could sink both Trump and DeSantis by 2024. Bill Clinton wasn’t seen as the obvious choice for the Democrats in 1991, and it wasn’t until February or March of 1992 that he emerged as the front-runner. A lot can happen in the next several months, so I’m sure they want to get their foot in the door early.
That being said? Pence is still unelectable in my view. The MAGA death cult will write-in Ivanka, or something, rather than begrudgingly casting a vote for him.