Staff Reports
The presidential campaign of former Vice President Mike Pence is off to a rocky start, with debts piling up faster than a kid’s laundry on the floor. According to the latest campaign finance filings, Pence’s campaign reported a whopping debt of $620,000 during the third quarter, despite having a seemingly impressive $1.2 million in cash on hand. It’s like trying to swim against the current while wearing a lead suit!
But that’s not even the worst of it. While Pence is busy drowning in debt, other candidates like former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis are swimming laps in a swimming pool of cash. Haley finished the third quarter with a cool $9.1 million to spend on primaries, and DeSantis is not far behind with a sweet $5 million in his campaign coffer. It’s like Pence showed up to a water gun fight armed with a dry sponge.
Even Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, who may not be a household name like Pence, managed to outshine him in terms of fundraising. Scott ended the third quarter with a staggering $13.3 million, leaving both Haley and DeSantis in his dust. It’s like the tortoise overtaking the hare, except in this case, Pence is the hare taking a nap in the shade while the others speed ahead.
But let’s not forget the elephant in the room—former President Donald Trump. With a mountainous $36 million in campaign funds, he’s like the Godzilla of the Republican Party. It’s no surprise considering he’s still leading the pack in polls by a substantial margin and has the backing of over half the GOP. The Trump train keeps chugging along while Pence’s campaign is stuck in the station, desperately trying to scrape together a ticket fare.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a Republican candidate digging themselves into a financial hole. Back in 2019, former candidate Scott Walker found himself trapped in a money pit, eventually dropping out of the race when his debt reached a staggering $1 million. It took him over a year to recover financially, and even then, he never bounced back fully. Will Pence suffer the same fate as Walker, being overshadowed by outstanding debts?
It’s clear that Pence is attempting to distance himself from Trump by criticizing his actions on January 6th. But let’s face it, most Republicans still firmly believe that Trump did no wrong that day, at least not knowingly. It’s like Pence is trying to convince a pack of hungry wolves that he’s a vegetarian. Good luck with that!
Unfortunately for Pence, it seems like the Republican Party is all set on handing Trump the golden ticket for the 2024 GOP nomination. It may not be the smartest move, but when has politics always been about making the smartest decisions? If only we had a crystal ball to see how Trump’s support would fare if he were actually convicted of any of the 91 charges currently against him.
The fervent indignation many Republicans feel towards how Trump has been treated is what’s fueling his continued success. It’s evident in the polls, where his numbers have barely budged since the indictments began. Just look at DeSantis, who was once riding high at nearly 30% in the early polls of 2023, only to sink like a lead balloon to his current 14% or so when the indictments started flying in April. It’s like watching a car crash in slow motion.
In the end, Pence may find himself swimming in a sea of debt while stronger candidates sail past him toward the nomination. But who knows? Politics is unpredictable, like a roller coaster ride with no safety harness. Only time will tell if Pence can miraculously turn his financial fortunes around or if he’ll be forced to fold his campaign tent and slink away in a cloud of debt. Either way, it’s going to be one wild and bumpy ride for the former vice president. Hold on tight!
