The New York Times published a story Sunday about Republican “shadow candidates” looking to 2020 “as doubts about Trump grow,” claiming that Mike Pence is methodically preparing the groundwork for a reelection bid. The piece was quickly criticized by the vice president’s office.
Pence wasn’t the only candidate mentioned. Senators Ben Sasse and Tom Cotton were also mentioned, as well as Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
This is the Timesevidence“Pence’s intentions:
While vice presidents typically have a packed political calendar, he has gone a step further, establishing an independent power base, cementing his status as Trump’s successor and promoting himself as a key liaison between the Republican donor class and the administration.
The vice president launched his own political fundraising committee, the Great America Committee, ignoring warnings from some influential Republicans that it could raise speculation about his intentions.
Mr. Pence also last month named Nick Ayers, a sharp-elbowed politician, as his new chief of staff — a striking departure from a long history of vice presidents promoting a government veteran to a top staffer. Mr. Ayers has worked on numerous campaigns but never in the federal government.
This administration has shown contempt for “custom,” so it should come as no surprise that Pence is bucking the curve. Pence’s closeness to the Republican donor class has been cited as one of his strengths, not as a way to distance himself from Trump. And given the hostility between congressional Republicans and the White House (as the Senate recently demonstrated vote to block “preventing Trump from making appointments during the recess), “installing” a “sharp-elbowed political activist” is probably a great and necessary idea.
The vice president’s office officially criticized the Times report, calling it “fake news.”
LATEST: Vice President Mike Pence releases statement calling report he plans to run in 2020 “disgraceful and offensive.” https://t.co/MxGCiVkaZU
photo: twitter.com/myj6XKtRWU— ABC News (@ABC) August 6, 2017
