In his book, Pence used similar language to criticise Trump, writing that the former vice president’s “reckless statements had endangered my family and all those serving at the Capitol.”

Yet his advisors saw the Gridiron dinner as a chance to reiterate and magnify such remarks. Additionally, they thought it would help Pence win over his most sceptic audience right now: the journalists and insiders in Washington who shunned him throughout the early 2024 race.

Marc Short, Pence’s senior adviser and the former vice president’s chief of staff, remarked that this audience differed from him.

Pence world has long felt that the former congressman and governor of Indiana may run for president in 2024 because he is now uniquely positioned to speak truth to power without the restraints of the vice presidency.

Mike is in a unique position that allows him to be somewhat liberated and unfettered in ways that I don’t believe others in the business are, according to Short. I’m not interested in finding out where he is right now. I think he has a clear path ahead of him.

Pence has more room to develop among Republican primary voters than a challenger like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, according to one person close to him who was given anonymity so they could speak without seeking permission from the newly formed campaign.

DeSantis has highly high aspirations, according to a person close to Pence, who described him as “a combination of Ronald Reagan, Willie Nelson, and Bono all wrapped up in one. In contrast, he is currently everything to everyone because no one knows him. Pence “is virtually on the other side of that,” the person continued. Everyone supposedly knows him. They believe they know what to expect from him. That’s not what I was thinking; they say after they meet them. He’s a hoot. He is affable. He’s friendly.

It will be interesting to watch if the GOP primary voters choose someone charming, likeable, and witty. The complete opposite of that was Trump’s electoral victory. DeSantis’ appeal is mainly attributable to the battles he has fought with his adversaries in politics.

The 2008 campaign of the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is viewed as a model by Pence’s closest group. McCain was written off by rivals back then, just like Pence is now, and was seen as a relic of an antiquated brand of politics as he travelled on the Straight Talk Express. They point out that before becoming more scripted as a governor and then as vice president, Pence routinely freelanced on Fox News shows and interacted with reporters in lengthy hallway interviews.

Pence’s supporters are working to help him reclaim some of that looser style by ensuring that his campaign events feature fireside chats and refraining from adopting a de facto stance that the media is the enemy.

Pence stated as much on Saturday night. He co-founded the House Caucus for Freedom of the Press in 2006 with Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.). He informed the journalists covering the attack on the Capitol, “We were able to stay at our post in part because you stayed at your post. “Because you didn’t stop reporting, the American people know what happened that day.”

Yet Pence’s willingness to compromise has its boundaries. As the president of the Senate, he has maintained that his refusal to comply with a subpoena to appear is based on the need to uphold the separation of powers. Despite his call for transparency regarding what occurred on January 6, he has continued to do so. No other significant contender in the race has responded to his criticism of Trump’s conduct related to the rebellion. Even though the Gridiron comments were critical, they were not made with a camera rolling; yet, Pence’s advisers argue that this affected their decision to criticise Trump.

Following his speech on the Gridiron, Pence will campaign in South Carolina, two early Republican primary states, on Thursday, then New Hampshire, Iowa, and South Dakota on Saturday. His supporters focus on reassembling the coalition that helped Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee win the Iowa caucuses in 2008 and 2016, respectively.

“Do I have a chance to win if there are 150,000 caucus attendees and I can face him in front of 150,000 people one-on-one?” Pence’s close friend said. “I would say without a doubt, yeah,” she replied.