Pence announces he’s dropping out of 2024 race, stunning crowd at RJC confab

Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief

Former US vice president Mike Pence speaks at an annual leadership meeting of the Republican Jewish Coalition, October 28, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Former US vice president Mike Pence speaks at an annual leadership meeting of the Republican Jewish Coalition, October 28, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Former US vice president Mike Pence shocks the crowd at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual conference by announcing that he is withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race.

“The Bible tells us that there’s a time for every purpose under heaven. After traveling across the country over the past six months, I came here to say that it’s become clear to me that this is not my time,” Pence says, as many in the crowd gasp.

“After much prayer and deliberation, I have decided to suspend my campaign for president effective today,” he says.

Pence vows to never stop fighting for conservative values or to elect “principled Republican leaders,” in an apparent shot at his former boss Donald Trump.

Pence’s presidential campaign never took off and he has been polling in the low single digits for months.

Every major Republican presidential candidate is addressing the RJC conference today, including Trump, who is expected to run away with the nomination.

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