Pence's Exit Highlights Trump's Influence on the GOP

Former Vice President Mike Pence's decision to end his presidential campaign early highlights the extent to which the Republican Party has been dominated by former President Donald Trump and his false claims about the 2020 election. Pence's campaign faced challenges from both Trump loyalists who saw him as a traitor for upholding the Constitution on January 6th, and from those who never forgave him for being part of the Trump administration. Despite his attempts to thread the needle by running on the Trump-Pence record while criticizing his former boss, Pence failed to gain support from conservative primary voters. His departure from the race is seen as a sign of the field narrowing, but it is unlikely to significantly boost any of his rivals' chances.