Mike Pence’s pivotal 2024 moment: Former VP will tell Republicans it’s time to choose between Donald Trump and Vivek or traditional conservatism in speech drawing a line in the sand

Mike Pence will warn Republicans in a big speech in New Hampshire on Wednesday that it’s time to choose between Donald Trump and Vivek Ramaswamy or traditional conservative values ​​of the Republican Party.

“I think there’s a movement going on, not just my former running mate, but also some of his imitators in this Republican primaries, who are more embracing the politics of populism today, running away from American leadership in the world, running away from of a commitment to fiscal responsibility and reform, and even trying to delegate the issue of life only to the states, when I believe it is an issue that concerns the entire American people,” Pence said. local news channel WMUR.

The former vice president will draw a line in the sand as he speaks at Saint Anselm College’s New Hampshire Institute of Politics in what his campaign calls a major speech on the future of the conservative movement.

The speech could become a pivotal moment in Pence’s campaign. And it comes after the former vice president spoke out aggressively against Ramaswamy in the first Republican debate, where he also defended his actions on Jan. 6 when he oversaw the certification of Joe Biden’s presidential victory.

Pence is struggling to gain traction in the polls for the Republican presidential nominee. He stormed New Hampshire — the first primary state — but sits at 2% in the state Polling average from RealClearPolitics of the state. Trump leads by double digits and Ramaswamy is at 6%.

And the latest poll in New Hampshire Trump had a 38-point lead on the field at 48%, while Pence was in seventh place at just 4%.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley tied for second with 10% each. Ramaswamy came in at 8%.

In his remarks, Pence will argue that government intervention in the free market, refusing to address Social Security and Medicare, and withdrawing from foreign relations are not the Republican Party’s way.

These policy positions were embraced by Trump and have been picked up by Ramaswamy, the 38-year-old biotech entrepreneur who is a Trump defender.

“I think there’s a very clear choice emerging, not just between candidates, but between a philosophy of governance, and Republicans are facing a Republican time to choose,” Pence said. Fox news.

Much of what Pence will address reflects the internal struggle taking place within the Republican Party — a battle between the right-wing MAGA supporters and the more moderate side. The battle plays out both on the campaign trail and in the halls of Congress as the Republican party grapples with its future.

Other candidates have taken similar steps: giving big speeches that also aim to answer one of the most important questions voters have about them. Mitt Romney, a Mormon, made one about faith during his presidential campaign. And Barack Obama made one about racing during his presidential bid.

For Pence, that important question is Trump. As a former vice president, he worked in the government that pushed some of the policies he now questions.

And the former president reformed much of the Republican Party, bringing in more working-class voters but also promoting a more populist and nationalist agenda.

Pence’s speech will undermine Donald Trump’s policies

Pence was also critical of Vivek Ramaswamy

In his speech, Pence will push for a strong defense, American leadership in the world and a nationwide ban on abortion.

“I truly believe we are in the midst of a healthy debate in the Republican Party today — whether or not we will continue to move toward the then-honored conservative agenda of strong national defense, American leadership in the world. , limited government, fiscal responsibility, traditional values ​​and the right to life, or whether we’re following the siren song of populism away from many of those same timeless conservative principles,” Pence told Fox News.