The former vice president for Donald Trump is among seven Republican presidential candidates who have met polling criteria to participate in the first Republican primary, set for August 23. Pence is the only one, however, who has failed to hit a fundraising threshold which is a minimum of 40,000 unique donors.
“We’re making incredible progress toward that goal. We’re not there yet,” Pence told CNN in a weekend interview. “We will make it. I will see you at the debate stage.”
Micah Clark, executive director of the American Family Association of Indiana, says nobody should be surprised Pence is struggling if Trump is in the primary.
“Because those who like the Trump-Pence record are going to vote for Trump,” he says, “and those who don't like Donald Trump are probably not going to vote for Mike Pence.”
Clark, who knows Pence personally from his time as governor, says the fundraising is a bad sign.
“Even though he has a lot of talents, I just don't see what pathway he has,” Clark concludes. “It is a very difficult time for him to run, I think."
