Pence skips Faith & Freedom conference. Is attacked by Trump anyways.

This yr, Pence has taken on a brand new persona among the many crowd—a Trump period castoff who might be higher off not displaying his face. And he appears to understand it. The former veep was invited to the convention however determined to not attend. It was the primary time Pence had missed the convention in 5 years.

“I was such a big fan of his but that part of the Republican Party is the educational elites – the old horses are on their way out,” mentioned Mary Obersteadt, the instant previous president of Nashville Republican Women. She wore rhinestone Trump and DeSantis pins on her convention lanyard. “I respect him for what he did and how he served this nation but he’s so disappointing when he – he should have communicated and stayed with Trump with Jan. 6, they should have been on the same level.”

Pence’s absence from this yr’s convention was attributable to a scheduling battle, in line with the convention organizers and Pence’s staff. On Thursday, he attended a roundtable with Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.

But whereas he nonetheless is rooted within the Christian conservative group, having attended an occasion with the Coalition in North Carolina to have interaction Chrisitan voters within the Charlotte space, his choice to skip the Faith & Freedom gathering underscores the crossroads he at the moment finds himself in politically.

“I think he’s seeking God’s direction for his decision on what to do next,” mentioned Dr. Robert Jeffress, pastor at First Baptist Dallas, who’s near each Pence and Trump, and sits on the advisory board for Pence’s political group, Advancing American Freedom.

At a time when Pence’s essential ideological causes are on the cusp of historic success—with the Supreme Court set to overturn the landmark abortion rights case, Roe v. Wade — he finds himself within the thick of intra-party drama. This week, the House choose committee investigating the riots on Capitol Hill zeroed in on Pence’s choice to withstand Donald Trump’s stress for him to dam certification of the Electoral College vote rely.

While Pence has, up to now, dodged discussing the committee’s proceedings, Trump used his personal look on the Faith & Freedom convention to assault his veep.

“Mike Pence had a chance to be great, he had a chance to be frankly historic,” Trump mentioned. “But Mike did not have the courage to act.”

It was a exceptional second for a convention that in previous years served as a celebration for the previous vp as a high conservative Christian chief. But issues have modified since Trump left workplace. Last yr, within the shadow of Jan. 6, Pence was jeered by the gang and referred to as a “traitor” whereas on stage. Now, when requested about what they consider Pence or how they view his political future, attendees sighed or visibly shrugged.

“That’s a good question,” mentioned Sandi McGuire, a Christian minister from Raleigh, North Carolina. “I haven’t seen him much. I don’t like speaking adverse toward anyone, he did great work. He came here last year and a percentage booed him. I’m not sure in fairness where he is. I wish him the best but he hasn’t been anywhere to be found.”

“It’s kind of hard, it’s a hard one,” mentioned Emily Hinojos from Rutherford, N.C. when requested about Pence’s political future. “I don’t know where he’s at since Jan 6. It’s hard to tell you’re not in their shoes but we would have liked him to support Trump better.”

The temper of the gang at Faith & Freedom mirrored the diploma to which Republican politicians are judged not a lot by their ideologies however by their relationship to Trump. Ralph Reed, a Republican strategist and founding father of the Faith & Freedom Coalition, is shut with each Trump and Pence. But when requested if he was stunned by Trump’s assaults, he would solely say he consulted with Trump’s speechwriters yesterday.

“If Mike Pence wanted to come and wanted to offer a rejoinder to these folks, he could have done it. I’m not saying he should have done it. I told him when I saw him a couple weeks ago, no harm no foul, but I said I want you here next year and he’ll be there,’” Reed mentioned to a small group of reporters after Trump’s speech.

Pence’s personal relationship with Trump is deeply sophisticated. For a number of months after leaving the White House, the 2 would often communicate. But they haven’t talked for a yr now regardless that their paths have often crossed, together with when each males addressed high Republican donors at a retreat in New Orleans in March. Trump continues to admonish his former vp in public, whereas Pence has remained agency in his choice to certify the election.

In latest months, Pence has turned his focus to the midterms. He’s supplied endorsements in key midterm races like Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and held a fundraiser for incumbent Rep. Steve Chabot on Thursday. On Monday, he’s set to ship a speech on the financial system on the University Club of Chicago.

“Our path is a little bit different than everybody else is at this point,” mentioned an individual near Pence’s political operation, who defended Pence’s choice to not go to the Nashville cattle name. “And whether he decided to do this thing or not, he doesn’t have to go there to get coverage.”

But it’s unclear how Pence can construct up a nationwide profile if he have been to lose the total help of his bedrock constituency: Evangelicals. Not everybody in his camp is anxious. Aides to Pence say he holds enchantment throughout the Republican social gathering.

“Vice President Pence checks the hawk lane. He checks the traditional GOP lane. And obviously probably the biggest one is the Evangelical lane,” mentioned the Pence ally.

And Bob Vander Plaats, president and CEO of The Family Leader, a conservative Christian mum or dad group for the Iowa Family Policy Center, mentioned Pence’s help stays sturdy amongst social conservatives and Evangelicals in Iowa, particularly as help of Trump wanes.

“Not to play Bob Seger on you, but I think they’re looking to turn the page,” Vander Plaats mentioned of Iowa voters he talks to. “Take the best of Trump, and let’s see if Ron DeSantis can carry on that fight—or Mike Pence or Mike Pompeo or Ted Cruz or whoever you throw into that match.”

But amongst these in Nashville this weekend, Pence appeared extra a relic of the previous than a component of the longer term. None of the merchandise stalls that lined the doorway to the convention ballroom featured Pence’s title, whereas there have been piles of purple, white, and blue “Trump” and “Trump 2024” t-shirts and hats on the market.

“I feel like he was mistreated so long he wanted to give his soul a break and his family. I don’t think it’s political, it’s personal – he doesn’t want to get attacked right now,” mentioned Krista Kiepke from Clarksville, Tenn. “Jesus himself removed from the disciples to refresh so he could do his job so I look at it as that.”