Mike Pence suspends 2024 presidential campaign

The former Vice President has announced he is suspending his 2024 presidential campaign.

Former VP Michael Pence has announced he is suspending his 2024 presidential campaign. Picture: Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP

Former Vice President Michael Pence announced Saturday he is suspending his 2024 presidential campaign.

The Republican presidential candidate made the announcement while speaking at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s leadership conference, the New York Post reports.

“I came here to say it’s become clear to me: This is not my time,” Pence said.

“I want to thank our supporters across the country, our devoted campaign family and volunteers whose efforts have sustained us in this campaign,” he added. “Let me thank you all for the opportunity of serving as your vice president, it was the greatest honour of my life”

Pence’s departure from the race likely signals the end of his political career.

He previously served as governor of Indiana and as a member of the House of Representatives.

Pence, a longtime pro-Israel die hard served up plenty of red meat in his departure speech as well, including calling for a nationwide ban on antisemitic Boycott, Divestment and Sanction campaigns against Israel.

Former VP Michael Pence has announced he is suspending his 2024 presidential campaign. Picture: Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP

“Israel has no choice but to crush Hamas. America must stand with Israel today, tomorrow and every hard day of fighting until Hamas is destroyed once and for all,” he said.

The former vice president was met with sustained applause from the friendly audience before walking off stage with his wife, former Second Lady Karen Pence.

Since announcing his candidacy in June, Pence has struggled to make inroads with GOP voters, despite his stature as a former vice president.

His polling has never risen above single digits and on the campaign trail he had been consistently overshadowed by his old boss, former President Donald Trump, and other field contenders like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy.

Pence has also faced ire from many grassroots Republican voters who have consistently blamed him for not aiding Trump’s effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

Pence has long insisted such activity from him would have been unconstitutional.

This story first appeared in the New York Post and is reproduced with permission.