Pence rejects reports that he's running for president in 2020
US Vice-President Mike Pence has dismissed a New York Times report stating that he was preparing to run for president in 2020. The NYT reported some Republicans had set up a "shadow campaign" for Pence, assuming President Donald Trump wouldn't run again. The article cited multiple sources which said Pence had implied that he'd plan to run if Trump opted out.
What the NYT report states?
NYT reported that Pence has kept a full political calendar and has created an "independent power base." He has also created the "Great America Committee," a political fund-raising group. Unlike Trump, Pence enjoys good relations with the Republican Party. He's also close to multiple conservative groups and some of the party's biggest donors, including the billion brother Charles and David Koch.
Why are some Republicans already considering Pence for 2020?
The NYT article said the White House under Trump is in turmoil due to investigations of his campaign's alleged collusion with Russia in the 2016 presidential election. Trump's mixed statements on the Russia probe and on other issues such as healthcare have left a section of Republicans frustrated. This has prompted some Republicans to take steps "unheard-of so soon into a new administration."
Pence calls report "fake news," NYT stands by it
Pence dismissed the report as "fake news," adding that "my entire team will continue to focus all our efforts to advance the president's agenda and see him re-elected in 2020." He said: "Any suggestion otherwise is both laughable and absurd." The White House has dubbed the report as "complete fiction." The NYT said it stands by its article and is confident of its accuracy.
