Mike Pence is making little secret of his presidential ambitions. He’s written his book, he’s assembling his team, he’s mastered the art of the coy non-denial when somebody asks (in between trips to Iowa) if he’s running. In early Republican-primary polls, he hovers between 6 and 7 percent—not top-tier numbers, but respectable enough. He seems to think he has at least an outside shot at winning the Republican nomination.

And yet, ask a Republican voter about the former vice president, and you’re likely to hear some of the most withering commentary you’ve ever encountered about a politician. …

I’ve always been skeptical of his chances, but now that he finally seems ready to run, I wanted to understand the appeal of his prospective candidacy. My goal was to see if I could find at least one Pence supporter.

[I dunno. I *like* Mike Pence and respect him as well, but this is a quixotic quest at best. Pence doesn’t represent either of the main factions within the GOP any more — the MAGA wing or the pre-Trump conservative wing. His only appeal now is a return to the pre-Biden years, but Trump will overwhelmingly capture that vote. For those who want to move on from Trump, Pence is the *last* candidate that will appeal on that basis, and Ron DeSantis will win most of those votes. It’s not a question of “like” as much as it is a question of matching the man to the moment, and Pence falls far short on that score. — Ed]