New Pence strategy: Take aim at "the siren song of populism," but not...

Former Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday will call on Republicans to choose classic conservative principles over “the siren song of populism” he sees pervading the party, a movement largely inspired by his former running mate.

But he’ll do so without directly naming Donald Trump in what’s being called a “major” speech at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at St. Anselm College.

Campaign advisers told reporters on a preview call Tuesday that the speech was not directed at one candidate in particular, such as Trump or biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, whom Pence has recently hammered over a slate of policy differences, but is intended to address a broader movement Pence and his campaign see rising not only in the race for president but in Congress and other flagship conservative institutions.

[Meh. Do Republicans need to stand up for conservatism as a priority over populism? Yes, but Pence is a flawed vessel for that message, having won his election as VP due mainly to the latter rather than the former. If Pence wants to attack populism, moreover, why not criticize his former running mate, who’s singing that “siren song”? At some point, the GOP candidates in this race are going to have to start feeling comfortable with direct criticism of its current polling frontrunner. Philosophical arguments alone won’t cut it. — Ed]