Mike Pence withdraws from Presidential race

Former Vice-President (and Indiana Governor) Mike Pence yesterday afternoon announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. The reaction to this announcement, from his former boss Donald J. Trump and from supporters of the former President, effectively amounts to “good riddance to bad rubbish.”

Mike Pence states the obvious

Oddly enough, Mike Pence announced his withdrawal at the Republican Jewish Coalition summit in Las Vegas, Nevada, yesterday. Jim Hoft at The Gateway Pundit dropped a brief post with few details. Charlotte Hazard at Just the News has a little more, including this quote:

Last June, I announced my intention to seek the Republican nomination for president of the United States because I believe this county is in a lot of trouble. After traveling across the country over the past six months … it’s become clear to me: this is not my time.

Ryan Meilstrup at The Datily Caller has more. So has The Associated Press, who quotes Pence as saying he has “no regrets.” According to Jim Holt, at least one person thinks he ought to express some.

Mike Pence, after Donald Trump’s indictment in the January 6 case, accused Trump of putting himself over the Constitution.

Trump disavowed him after that. More recently, after the Fourth Arab-Israeli War broke out, Mike Pence somehow found grounds to blame Trump for HAMAS’ atrocious, drug-crazed opening gambit in that war.

This morning, Trump suggested Mike Pence should endorse him – as Larry Elder did. (see below.)

Other candidates drop out

Pence becomes the fifth Republican candidate for President to drop out of the race. Larry Elder dropped out two days before, and endorsed President Trump. He shared a detailed statement on X Thursday afternoon (October 26).

Elder followed up on that with an explicit endorsement. In this electronic-retouch montage, Elder appears off-stage, looking at Trump as he speaks.

Arizona broadcaster (now Senate candidate) Kari Lake offered her kudos:

Other candidates who have withdrawn include Mayor Francis Suarez (R-Miami, Fla.), former Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas), and Perry Johnson, a Michigan businessman.

That still leaves Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.), Amb. (and former Gov.) Nikki Haley (R-S.C.), former Gov. (and United States Attorney) Chris Christie (R-N.J.), former Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-Ark.), Gov. Doug Burgum (R-N.D.), Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.