COLUMBUS — Former Vice President Mike Pence returned to his roots at a campaign fundraiser Wednesday, talking up his hometown, his presidential aspirations and an upcoming debate.
Pence, one of 13 major declared candidates seeking the Republican nomination for president in 2024, was the guest of honor at a Wednesday evening campaign reception held at the Factory 12 Event Loft in Columbus. The reception was hosted by his brother, Rep. Greg Pence, R-Indiana. It was $25 an entry for general reception attendees, $100 for sponsors and $500 for co-hosts, while the VIP reception was $3,300 for hosts, according to an event details post.
“It’s very humbling and good to have a chance to come home and also thank people for the opportunities that they’ve given me over the years,” Pence told the Daily Journal following the event. “I loved being elected to Congress from Columbus, being elected governor. Everything begins for me in Columbus.”
The former vice president’s Columbus visit comes hours after he addressed the National Conference of State Legislatures Legislative Summit, the country’s largest annual gathering of state lawmakers, in downtown Indianapolis. During his speech there, which came only days after Former President Donald Trump was indicted in Georgia in connection to alleged election interference in the 2020 election, Pence said the election was not stolen and that he had no right to overturn it, according to the Indiana Capital Chronicle.
He also criticized the handling of Trump’s alleged actions, and criticized the federal justice system as being “politicized.” Pence told the summit that Democrats in Washington, D.C., have been engaged in a pursuit of the former president, but looking away from Hillary Clinton and Hunter Biden — undermining confidence in equal treatment under the law, the Capital Chronicle reported.
Back in his hometown on Wednesday, Pence did not say much about his former running mate. Instead, the former vice president, Indiana governor and congressman spoke about his family, his time in Columbus and his plans for America, if elected president.
Pence spoke highly of his mother, Nancy, who he says gave him his start in politics. The opportunities and support he’s had from not only his family but his community, got him to where he is today, he said.
“Everything I am, everything I will ever be, all began here in Columbus, Indiana,” he said.
After updates on his family, Pence shifted to his presidential campaign, telling the crowd of about 110 attendees he is running because the U.S. is “in trouble.” He went on to criticize how President Joe Biden handled the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan on Aug. 30, 2021, which was two years ago this week.
“That as a whole has disgraced and dishonored the service and sacrifice of veterans for the last 20 years. …. Nothing from that disastrous withdrawal will ever diminish the gratitude and honor that is owed to every American service member who served in Afghanistan,” Pence said.
The U.S. is facing challenges on many fronts, he said. Diplomatically with the war in Ukraine, and domestically with high spending, high gas prices and inflation, along with the illicit drug trade, the southern border and undocumented immigrants, Pence said.
Despite these challenges, Pence says he has faith the country can turn it around.
Near the end of his speech, Pence spoke of an encounter he had with a man after the 2008 floods. Pence, then a Congressman, went to Northside Middle School in Columbus to meet with displaced residents.
The flood survivor told Pence he had lost nearly everything but he was about to move to a new home. Pence asked if the Federal Emergency Management Agency was providing him aid. The man said no, and said that some people from a church in Greensburg came to help.
In challenging times Americans can make it through, as they are some of the most kind-hearted, faith-filled, freedom-loving people in the world, he said.
“We just need a government as good as our people and I intend to deliver that,” Pence said.
Pence also took time to do a brief question-and-answer session with attendees, a selfie with the crowd and to meet one-on-one with his supporters.
The fundraising event was “very successful,” Pence said following the event. Nationally, the outpouring of support around the country has been encouraging as well, he said.
At one point, Pence did not meet the donor qualifications for next week’s Republican presidential debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While he had met the polling requirement of 1% in three high-quality national polls or a mix of national and early-state polls between July 1 and Aug. 21, he was short of the 40,000 donors threshold as the month began.
On Aug. 8, he announced he met the donor requirement for the debate, the Associated Press reported. By the end of this week, Pence believes he’ll have even more donors.
“We think before the end of the week, we’ll actually reach a threshold of 50,000 donors, which is the requirement for the second debate in September,” Pence said. “But obviously, the support from home means even more. It’s the people that know us best that are supporting us and we’re truly grateful.”
As for the first primary debate next week, which will air on Fox News, Pence is looking forward to it. He’s been preparing for it his whole life, he said.
“We’re going through the process of trying to make sure that we’re ready,” Pence said. “I’ve been involved in a couple of nationally-televised debates, but that was with just one other person, and being on the debate (stage) with other Republican candidates for president will be unique for me.”
Pence says there are very clear distinctions between not only him and Trump but also the other Republican candidates and the direction they want to take both the party and the country in.
“I’m looking forward to not only having the country get to know me as a candidate, to hear my vision for America but also making sure Republican voters know there are very clear choices in this primary. I truly believe that I’m the most qualified and consistent conservative running for the Republican nomination for president today,” he said.
The next Republican president needs to be ready on their first day in office to assemble a team and an agenda that could turn the country around, Pence said.
“This is a time for experience. The challenges that we’re facing on the world stage, the challenges that American families are facing — struggling in this economy — I think require the kind of leadership that we would be able to bring on day one, and we’re going to be carrying that message all across this country,” Pence said.
WHERE TO WATCH
First Republican Presidential Debate
Where: Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
When: 9 p.m. ET on Aug. 23
Where to watch: Fox News
