Yesterday, former Vice President Mike Pence made headlines after announcing he is joining conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation. However, that’s not the only exciting news for the politician as he just revealed he is also partnering with conservative student organization Young America’s Foundation as the team’s Ronald Reagan Presidential Scholar.
According to a press release from Young America’s Foundation:
Vice President Pence has been a great friend of Young America’s Foundation throughout his time in public office. He addressed YAF’s student audiences while serving in the House of Representatives and, most recently, while serving as the Vice President of the United States. The Foundation was also honored to welcome Vice President Pence and his family to the Reagan Ranch in 2005.
“Vice President Pence has been a stalwart defender of individual freedom, traditional values, free markets, and limited government throughout his career of distinguished service to our country,” noted Governor Scott Walker, president of Young America’s Foundation. “Now, by partnering with YAF, the Vice President will continue to attract new hearts and minds to the conservative cause, passing along the ideas of freedom—just as President Reagan did before, during, and after his time in office. Vice President Pence’s energy and enthusiasm for Ronald Reagan’s values has and will continue to inspire a new generation of young people.”
As YAF’s Ronald Reagan Presidential Scholar, Vice President Pence will join the Foundation’s unrivaled campus lecture program to deliver his pro-freedom message directly to the rising generation.
“Throughout its 60-year history, Young America’s Foundation has been a bulwark of the Conservative Movement, advancing the cause of freedom and ensuring our future leaders embrace America’s founding principles and I am honored to join YAF as the Ronald Reagan Presidential Scholar,” said Vice President Mike Pence. “Long before I became Vice President to President Donald Trump, the vision and leadership of Ronald Reagan inspired my youth and I am humbled to continue the work of advancing the Conservative cause from a position bearing his name. Now more than ever, we need to take the case for freedom, free markets, and traditional values to the rising generation and I look forward to working with the great YAF team to ensure the torch of freedom shines bright for generations to come.”
It’s clear Pence is closely aligning himself with powerful conservative voices and organizations. Marc Short, a former adviser to the vice president says that he is gearing up to be heavily involved in helping Republicans take back majorities in the upcoming elections.
According to Fox News:
Short said initial conversations with House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy and his team are already underway on how Pence can be useful going forward, as well as with the Republican Governors Association. Pence served on the RGA’s executive committee during his tenure as Indiana governor and has a close relationship with Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, who recently took over as RGA chairman. Gubernatorial elections are being held in 38 states over the next two years.
A Republican source in Pence’s orbit predicted, “I think you’ll find that candidates will be remarkably welcoming to Mike Pence coming and campaigning on their behalf.”
Campaigning for Republicans in next year’s elections could pay dividends when the next White House race officially gets underway following the 2022 midterms.
“It’s a strategy that a number of presidential candidates have used over the years, traveling to early primary and caucus states ostensibly to help Republicans but really make friends, lay the groundwork for White House campaigns,” noted longtime GOP strategist Jim Merrill.
