Former Vice President Mike Pence dropped his bid for the Republican presidential nomination on Saturday after months of campaigning to convince Republican voters that he was the best alternative to front-runner former President Donald Trump. The first significant candidate to withdraw from the race, Pence announced his decision at the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) donor conference in Las Vegas.
“Traveling over the country over the past six months, I came here to say it’s become clear to me: This is not my time,” said Pence, “So after much prayer and deliberation, I have decided to suspend my campaign for president effective today.”
During his speech, Pence urged his fellow Republicans to choose a candidate who would embody the party’s principles and “appeal to the better angels of their nature,” as Abraham Lincoln once said. He emphasized the importance of leading the country with civility.
When asked about endorsing Donald Trump at the conference, Pence did not provide a response. While Pence later said he would support a “principled” candidate, his spokesperson did not immediately comment on his endorsement plans.
Trump spoke at the RJC event shortly after Pence but did not acknowledge his former vice president’s announcement on stage. However, at a separate event in Las Vegas on Saturday night, Trump was critical of his former vice president and said that Pence “owed him” his support.