During a Sunday interview on Fox News, Shannon Bream questioned former Vice President Mike Pence about his dwindling support in the 2024 GOP presidential primaries.
Serving under Donald Trump from 2017 to 2021, Pence is trying to outpace his former boss in the primaries. Yet, his campaign has faced challenges in making a significant mark in the polls. Notably, Pence did not endorse the widely discredited theory that the 2020 election was compromised due to voter fraud. Although this position has potentially distanced him from some conservative voters, Pence maintains he prioritized the Constitution over these unsupported claims. He reiterated this during the initial GOP debate in August.
A recent poll from the Wall Street Journal, surveying 600 Republican primary voters between August 24-30, found that a mere 2 percent support Pence’s bid for the presidency. Candidates like Trump, Nikki Haley, Governor Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie, and Vivek Ramaswamy garnered more support. The poll’s margin of error stood at ±4 percent.
On Fox News Sunday, Bream presented these statistics to Pence, saying, “The latest Wall Street Journal poll ranks you sixth, with many observing you’re trying to persuade a skeptical GOP base. Given these figures, why continue this uphill battle, especially when the odds are not in your favor?”
Bream cited an August 31 piece from the New York Times, asking how someone who validated the 2020 results could win the trust of those who doubted its legitimacy. Another August 15 article from The Atlantic queried why Pence believes those who appeared hostile towards him would back him now.
Responding, Pence said the poll numbers don’t align with what he’s observed during his campaign trips to early-voting states, such as Iowa and New Hampshire.
He said, “Just last week, I was in Iowa and I’ll be heading to New Hampshire next. The feedback from our Iowa canvassers places me consistently in second place, suggesting ample time before the primaries begin. I aim to consistently share my long-standing commitment to conservative values and propose a renewed direction for the GOP and the nation.”
