According to a report in Politico, there appears to be an ‘absolute standoff’ between two Republican presidential hopefuls: Former US Vice-President Mike Pence and Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
In New Hampshire over the weekend, there was a conspicuous absence of a handshake or even a cordial acknowledgement between Mike Pence and Vivek Ramaswamy, who are both vying for the Republican presidential nomination. The palpable animosity between these rivals was hard to ignore, the report said.
As per Politico report, Ramaswamy made it clear during a visit to the Hopkinton State Fair that he is “open to working with anybody, Republican or not.” However, when specifically asked about including Pence, he deflected the question. Two days later, at a Labor Day picnic, Ramaswamy remained on his campaign bus while Pence, the former vice president, interacted with attendees. Later, when both were outside, Ramaswamy briefly turned his back to the stage while Pence spoke.
This conflict between Pence and Ramaswamy represents both an ideological and generational divide. Pence, at 64 years old, brings more than three decades of experience in the conservative movement, while Ramaswamy, at 38, has transitioned from libertarianism to a MAGA-aligned form of Republicanism. It symbolizes a larger struggle within the party over its future direction, somewhat reminiscent of the 2020 Democratic rivalry between Senator Amy Klobuchar and her younger challenger, Pete Buttigieg.
The feud between Pence and Ramaswamy illustrates a distinct dynamic in the 2024 primary, where candidates are cautious about offending Trump‘s base and, instead, engage in conflicts with each other rather than directly targeting the frontrunner. This clash began last month when Pence criticized Ramaswamy for his comments on 9/11, stating that they “deeply offended” him. Ramaswamy responded by characterizing the primary as a division between the “neoconservative foreign policy establishment” represented by Pence and Nikki Haley and a more nationalistic approach.
Pence seemingly perceives Ramaswamy as insincere and inauthentic, which he views as an affront to his leadership. In contrast, Ramaswamy counters by trying to diminish Pence’s credibility.
Their rivalry reflects their distinct appeal to different segments of the Republican voter base. Ramaswamy aligns himself closely with Trump’s brand of populism and has vowed to pardon Trump if he faces criminal charges. Some see him as a continuation of Trump’s legacy. In contrast, Pence is struggling to connect with a GOP base that remains loyal to Trump and to sell his brand of religious conservatism in libertarian-leaning states.
While both candidates are polling in the single digits nationally, the gap between them is wider in New Hampshire, where Ramaswamy holds an average of 6 percentage points in polls compared to Pence’s just below 2 per cent. Trump maintains strong support in New Hampshire, with over 44 per cent in primary polls.
The rivalry between Pence and Ramaswamy is part of the competitive nature of presidential campaigns, where candidates vie for attention and support. Recently, Ramaswamy has hinted that he is ready to run on a joint ticket with Trump.
In this intense primary race, Pence and Ramaswamy continue to clash, reflecting the broader battle for the future of the Republican Party and the competition for conservative voters’ favour.
In New Hampshire over the weekend, there was a conspicuous absence of a handshake or even a cordial acknowledgement between Mike Pence and Vivek Ramaswamy, who are both vying for the Republican presidential nomination. The palpable animosity between these rivals was hard to ignore, the report said.
As per Politico report, Ramaswamy made it clear during a visit to the Hopkinton State Fair that he is “open to working with anybody, Republican or not.” However, when specifically asked about including Pence, he deflected the question. Two days later, at a Labor Day picnic, Ramaswamy remained on his campaign bus while Pence, the former vice president, interacted with attendees. Later, when both were outside, Ramaswamy briefly turned his back to the stage while Pence spoke.
This conflict between Pence and Ramaswamy represents both an ideological and generational divide. Pence, at 64 years old, brings more than three decades of experience in the conservative movement, while Ramaswamy, at 38, has transitioned from libertarianism to a MAGA-aligned form of Republicanism. It symbolizes a larger struggle within the party over its future direction, somewhat reminiscent of the 2020 Democratic rivalry between Senator Amy Klobuchar and her younger challenger, Pete Buttigieg.
The feud between Pence and Ramaswamy illustrates a distinct dynamic in the 2024 primary, where candidates are cautious about offending Trump‘s base and, instead, engage in conflicts with each other rather than directly targeting the frontrunner. This clash began last month when Pence criticized Ramaswamy for his comments on 9/11, stating that they “deeply offended” him. Ramaswamy responded by characterizing the primary as a division between the “neoconservative foreign policy establishment” represented by Pence and Nikki Haley and a more nationalistic approach.
Pence seemingly perceives Ramaswamy as insincere and inauthentic, which he views as an affront to his leadership. In contrast, Ramaswamy counters by trying to diminish Pence’s credibility.
Their rivalry reflects their distinct appeal to different segments of the Republican voter base. Ramaswamy aligns himself closely with Trump’s brand of populism and has vowed to pardon Trump if he faces criminal charges. Some see him as a continuation of Trump’s legacy. In contrast, Pence is struggling to connect with a GOP base that remains loyal to Trump and to sell his brand of religious conservatism in libertarian-leaning states.
While both candidates are polling in the single digits nationally, the gap between them is wider in New Hampshire, where Ramaswamy holds an average of 6 percentage points in polls compared to Pence’s just below 2 per cent. Trump maintains strong support in New Hampshire, with over 44 per cent in primary polls.
The rivalry between Pence and Ramaswamy is part of the competitive nature of presidential campaigns, where candidates vie for attention and support. Recently, Ramaswamy has hinted that he is ready to run on a joint ticket with Trump.
In this intense primary race, Pence and Ramaswamy continue to clash, reflecting the broader battle for the future of the Republican Party and the competition for conservative voters’ favour.