‘The Republican Party did not begin on a golden escalator in 2015’: Mike Pence launches direct attacks at Trump, Vivek AND DeSantis in speech telling Republicans it’s time to choose between them and ‘conservatism’

Mike Pence launched a direct attack on rivals Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy and Ron DeSantis in a speech challenging the Republican Party to return to its conservative roots.

In what his campaign billed as a major speech, the former vice president denounced the direction the Republican Party was moving in and called for new leadership that would take the party to what it was under Ronald Reagan.

“The truth is that the Republican Party didn’t start out on a golden escalator in 2015,” he said, referring to Trump’s campaign announcement, as he rode an escalator to Trump Tower.

Much of what appealed to Pence reflects the internal strife 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.

He delivered his speech at Saint Anselm College’s New Hampshire Institute of Politics, a must-stop during the presidential campaign. New Hampshire, which holds first place in the nation’s primaries, prides itself on its political independence, touting the state motto “Live Free or Die.”

A small crowd of about fifty people listened to his remarks and then posed for selfies.

For Pence, the speech could be a pivotal moment. It comes after he made aggressive attacks in the first Republican primary debate. The second debate will take place in three weeks, on September 27 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.

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.

Trump has the Republican Party in a stranglehold. His MAGA supporters have made or broken candidates in several primaries, putting him in a position of power. Through his own indictments and legal issues, the former president has raised millions from his supporters.

In his remarks, Pence set himself up as the heir to Reagan’s legacy and denounced his rivals for rejecting the Constitution, using the administration to advance their own agenda, and turning to populism.

When Donald Trump ran for president in 2016, he promised to rule conservatively. We did that together,” Pence said. “But it’s important for Republicans to know that he and his imitators in this Republican primary today are not making such a promise.”

He also criticized Trump’s stance on Medicaid and Medicare.

“Donald Trump’s stance on entitlement reform is identical to Joe Biden’s,” Pence said.

Donald Trump rides an escalator at Trump Tower in 2015 to announce his candidacy for the presidency of the United States

Mike Pence with Donald Trump in the Oval Office in September 2020 – Pence argued that the two men co-ruled as conservatives and that Trump has turned away from that

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%.

DeSantis and former UN ambassador Nikki Haley tied for second with 10% each. Ramaswamy came in at 8%.

In his speech, Pence tried to tie DeSantis to Trump, calling the Florida governor an “impersonator” of the former president.

“These imitators in these primaries have demonstrated their willingness to wield the power of government to impose their will on opponents,” he said, pointing to DeSantis’s war against Walt Disney.

“The governor of Florida still justifies using state power to punish a company for taking a political position with which he disagrees,” Pence said.

The clash between DeSantis and Disney began when the company spoke out against the governor’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law — a state law that prohibits classroom discussions of sexual orientation and sex identity. As part of that war, DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Florida legislature ended the self-governing privileges Disney World had held since 1967.

In his remarks, Pence attacked Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (above right) for his war on Disney

Biotech CEO Vivek Ramaswamy is also campaigning in New Hampshire – above he is at the Labor Day Parade in Milford

And Pence criticized Ramaswamy for advocating a 59% estate tax in his book. The former vice president said the tax policy was something liberals would support.

“In his book Nation of Victims last year, he said that Americans shouldn’t become a rich quote just by having rich parents,” Pence noted.

Pence called on Republicans to return to policies of “limited government and individual liberty.”

He argued that this was the way to defeat President Joe Biden in November next year.

“If we want to beat Joe Biden and change America, the Republican Party must be the party of limited government, free enterprise, fiscal responsibility and traditional moral values,” Pence said in conclusion. “And I will carry that message throughout the Granite State and across America in the coming days.”