September 13, 2016 | No Comments
After months of behind the scenes outreach to Republicans wary of their bombastic nominee, Mike Pence is hitting Capitol Hill today for his most overt effort yet to fire up loyalists, soothe the worried and maybe even win over a convert or two.
Pence will address the House Republican Conference Tuesday morning, huddle with Senate Republicans at their weekly lunch, headline a fundraiser and weave in private meetings throughout the day.
While Donald Trump’s own visit with congressional Republicans earlier this year featured fireworks, including heated exchanges with senators who don’t support him, no such drama is expected today. For Pence, who spent 12 years in Congress and served in leadership, the day’s events represent a “homecoming of sorts,” said one aide.
The meetings come just a few hours after Pence declined to call former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke “deplorable” in a Monday interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, saying he’s “not in the name-calling business,” while continuing to disavow support from the white supremacist. Hillary Clinton and her Democratic supporters seized on his refusal, arguing it suggests Pence is catering to an unsavory racist crowd. Duke, meanwhile praised him on Twitter following the remarks, albeit while calling him “Pense.”
Pence’s pitch to Republicans Tuesday will be more of an invitation to dialogue than a scripted hard sell, a Pence aide said. The VP nominee is expected to talk about the energy he sees on the trail, plans for the final stretch and receive feedback from members.
He is set to meet privately with some Republicans who have yet to endorse Trump, including Utah Sen. Mike Lee, who recently hosted Pence at his Utah Solutions Summit. But in the schedule of private meetings, many of which have not yet been disclosed, is also a recognition of some bridges burnt beyond repair. Pence does not plan to meet with his longtime friend Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), who he met with in early August in Arizona. Pence pitched Flake on supporting Trump, describing him as different in private, but Flake has since announced his continued opposition to the nominee. Trump swung back, hitting Flake on Twitter as “weak.”
Pence’s efforts to woo Congressional Republicans have been part of his work as running mate since his selection. Many House Republicans adore him for his steadfast conservative social values on issues such as abortion and gay marriage.
In an early signal of his conciliatory ways, he chose Speaker Paul Ryan to introduce him at the Republican National Convention weeks before Trump could even bring himself to endorse Ryan in his primary. And just hours after Trump in a Washington Post interview refused to endorse Ryan to maintain his seat, raising eyebrows and speculation that their already tense relationship had hit a new low, Pence threw his name behind the speaker.
Even as many vulnerable Senate Republicans have kept their distance from Pence, he has continued to vouch for them on the trail.