Mike Pence Withdraws from Republican Presidential Race

Mike Pence, the former Vice President, announced on Saturday that he is suspending his campaign for the Republican nomination in the upcoming presidential election after struggling to raise funds and gain traction in polls. According to the Associated Press, Pence stated at the annual Republican Jewish Coalition gathering in Las Vegas, "It has become clear to me: [these days] are not my time. Therefore, after much prayer and counsel, I have decided to suspend my campaign for the presidency." He further told the audience, "We always knew this would be a tough battle, but I have no regrets." Pence is the first major candidate to exit a race dominated by his former boss, Donald Trump, which highlights how much Trump has transformed the party. A former Vice President is typically seen as a strong contender in any primary election, but Pence has faced challenges in finding a base among voters. According to two of Pence's close associates who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity, he chose the Las Vegas event to announce his decision to continue his support for Israel and to assert, one last time as a candidate, that the isolationist and populist currents enveloping the Republican Party pose a danger to its future and embolden the enemies of the country. Pence's decision comes with more than two months until the Iowa caucuses, but he faced difficulties in meeting the requirements to participate in the third Republican primary debate on November 8 in Miami. Given Pence's limited support, it is unclear which candidates will benefit from his withdrawal. However, those hoping the Republican Party will move past the former president welcomed the news as a step toward solidifying a path for finding an alternative to Trump. Pence did not endorse any of his rivals on Saturday but continued to use the rhetoric he has employed recently in criticizing Trump.