Conventional Wisdom
Strengths
- Strong appeal to social conservatives.
- Experience at the national and state levels.
- Speaking ability honed through years as a radio talk show host.
Weaknesses
- Not well known nationally
.
- Up for re-election in 2016, and Indiana law bars him from seeking both offices.  [
Indiana Code 3-8-7-19 provides that for the general election "the name of a person who has been nominated as a candidate for an elected office may not appear in more than one (1) place on a ballot."  In Jan. 2015 State Sen. Mike Delph introduced a bill which would eliminate that restriction].

Notes, Coverage and Speeches


May 14, 2014 - Consumer-driven health care reform.

2015 - Gov. Pence triggered a national storm of criticism with his signature of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (SEA 101) on March 26, 2015 (+).

2014
- Gov. Pence appears somewhat infrequently in presidential speculation; he has been low-key about presidential ambitions, and like his predecessor, Gov. Mitch Daniels, says he will not make a decision until after the legislative session concludes in late April.  Pence did do various political events throughout the year including an appearance at Americans for Prosperity's Defending the American Dream Summit in June, an event for Gov. Branstad in Iowa on Sept. 8, a couple of campaign events in New Hampshire on Oct. 24, and a GOTV tour around Indiana in November.  Pundits read possible political motives into Pence's nine-day, year-end cultural and jobs mission to Israel over the Christmas holidays (+).


Gov. Pence made headlines on March 24 when he signed a bill, Senate Bill 91, pulling Indiana out of Common Core (+).  However critics, such as Hoosiers Against Common Core >, charge that the standards are still being implemented and that the action was essentially a rebranding.

2013 - Pence was featured on the cover of Townhall magazine ("The Face of the GOP's Future").

April 25, 2014 - NRA-ILA Leadership Forum. [prepared remarks]
Jan. 14, 2014 - State of the State Address. [prepared remarks]


Articles
Matthew Yglesias.  "7 reasons Mike Pence will be the GOP nominee in 2016."  Vox, Jan. 6, 2015.
Philip Rucker and Robert Costa.  "GOP woos Mike Pence for 2016, and Indiana governor says he's 'listening.'" Washington Post, May 8, 2014.

  this page last revised March 31, 2015

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