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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums"They threaten Mike every week that they're going to take him off the ticket"
BY GABRIEL SHERMAN
SEPTEMBER 16, 2019
Even by Trumpian standards, the presidents past six weeks have been epically horrendous. The trade war with China is eating away at his central re-election rationale, while his preposterous feud with Alabama weather forecasters, and his inviting the Taliban to Camp David days before the 18th anniversary of 9/11, have renewed questions about his mental fitness and the 25th Amendment. An ABC NewsWashington Post poll released last Wednesday showed Joe Biden beating Donald Trump by 15 pointsa 5-point jump since July. The drumbeat of negative headlines is causing Trump to lash out. He cares a lot about polls. Ive never seen anyone who cares more, frankly, said a former West Wing official. A prominent Republican close to the White House told me: You cant even share one little negative thing with him. If you give him a poll number thats down, hell just go nuts. No one wants to share any bad news.
In this darkening political environment, Trump and his advisers are debating various Hail Mary strategies that might reset the campaign. One idea being pushed by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, which was first reported by Axios, would be to dump Vice President Mike Pence from the ticket and replace him with former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley. They threaten Mike every week that theyre going to take him off the ticket, a Republican in touch with Pences camp told me. They tell him, You have to go here and say this, you have to go there and do that. (The White House, Pence, and Kushner declined to comment.)
The possible Pence defenestration is being driven by several factors, sources said. One is that Trumps upside-down poll numbers with women make it imperative that he do something big to improve his standing with female suburban voters. The political thinking is that while Pence is popular with evangelicals, they wont have anywhere to go, the former West Wing official said. It would also give Trump a card to play during the Democrats convention next July. When the Democrats have their big night nominating their candidate, its a perfect time for Trump to announce a new running mate, the former West Wing official said.
But another consideration is Trumps frustration with Pence. Despite Pences obsequiousness, the relationship between the two has never cemented. Trump sees him as a good Christian man, but in Trumps mind he thinks that means Mikes weak, the Republican close to the White House said. Trump has complained to people that Pence isnt loyal enough. (For instance, Pence recently refused a request by Kushner to attack former White House communications director turned Trump critic Anthony Scaramucci during a speech at a GOP event at the Naval Observatory, according to a person briefed on the conversation.) Trump is annoyed Pence hasnt been defending him more, a Republican close to the White House said.
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/09/is-trumps-long-suffering-vp-in-danger-of-getting-bounced
Hekate
(90,202 posts)One has to wonder.
And Pence should just be like: Do it. Goodbye.
Celerity
(42,672 posts)is much more intelligent, aggressive, and looks the part of the proverbial Rethug RW soldier/pol (although the soldier part spotlights... BONESPURS) Cotton would be a far more formidable General election Rethug POTUS nominee than the turgid Pence.
Only downside is he is taller than Trump by a fair amount, has BIG hands (roflmaooo) and Rump's ego may not be able to cope.
malaise
(267,832 posts)dalton99a
(81,073 posts)get the red out
(13,459 posts)about poor widdle Pence, maybe Mother can console him.
madaboutharry
(40,153 posts)He should have some self respect and walk.
Captain Zero
(6,715 posts)Trump is Satan. As long as he has it ready to go when they bump hm off at the convention.
enough
(13,237 posts)All it would take would be a well placed rumor in evangelical circles. That Trump actually is Satan. Could turn things around fast.
NCLefty
(3,678 posts)code words... "religious freedom" and such.
It will be rough for Mike Pence though, if the reason he was brought on was to get their votes and they don't back him up. :p
BHDem53
(1,059 posts)dchill
(38,324 posts)Tiggeroshii
(11,088 posts)Hermit-The-Prog
(33,041 posts)Vinca
(50,171 posts)jcgoldie
(11,584 posts)How Donald Trump is it that he would dump his Vice President just so he could steal headlines on the night the Democrats nominate their candidate? So reality TV.
mopinko
(69,807 posts)dont want to impeach him?
but but mike pounce.
NewJeffCT
(56,827 posts)how does that work - does Pence just finish out the term as VP and pack up & go home on inauguration day in January 2021?
What happens if Trump tells Pence he's not on the ticket and Pence quits? A new VP would need to be approved by Nancy Pelosi and the House, no?