Report: Mike Pence to stump for Republicans ahead of midterm elections
Vice President Mike Pence is planning to stump for Republican candidates in the coming months ahead of the midterm elections, according to Politico.
Pence is set to travel across the country through several Midwestern states and to Georgia, the site of a surprisingly close upcoming special runoff election, where he will stump for Republican Karen Handel.
Nick Ayers, Pence's chief strategist, told Politico that Pence "has an appetite to fight, so he's going to get out there and fight on the president's behalf."
The push for Republicans comes as many in the party are fearful of the Democrats making big gains in 2018, combined with a lack of direction from the White House on any midterm party plans.
Most recently, Pence stepped in to lend a hand to Montana Republican Greg Gianforte's campaign ahead of the state's special House election by recording a robocall, urging voters not to let Democrats "take this seat out of Republican hands."
Gianforte went on to win the seat left vacant by Department of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, but not without some controversy.
Gianforte allegedly "body slammed" a Guardian reporter the night before the election at a meet-and-greet event. Gianforte was later cited with a misdemeanor assault charge.
Pence also recently established his own political action committee, the Great America Committee, in order to help raise money to get pro-Trump candidates elected
Ayers told CBS News that that any speculation that the PAC is anything more than a vehicle to help other candidates, pay for the vice president's political travel, and a "legal necessity" to "all of Pence's political assets in an entity that he could use" is just that: speculation.
Up next for Pence: He is set to travel to Iowa on June 3rd with Senator Joni Ernest, R-Iowa and Republican Governor Kim Reynolds for Ernst's annual BBQ-themed "Roast and Ride" event.