Mike Pence dismisses reports of 2020 run as 'fake news' and insists he will work for Donald Trump's re-election - Telegraph

Mike Pence dismisses reports of 2020 run as 'fake news' and insists he will work for Donald Trump's re-election

Rob Crilly, new york

7 AUGUST 2017 • 7:22AM

Mike Pence, the US Vice President, has angrily dismissed reports he is preparing a presidential run for 2020 as “absurd” and “offensive” insisting that he is focused on ensuring Donald Trump’s re-election.

A day earlier The New York Times reported that leading Republicans have begun making visits to Iowa, one of the states crucial to securing the party’s presidential nomination, and that Mr Pence has established his own fundraising committee.

However, he dismissed the suggestion that he was preparing a run as “fake news”.

“The allegations in this article are categorically false and represent just the latest attempt by the media to divide this administration," he said in a statement.

He praised the president’s leadership and insisted his entire team was focussed on re-electing Mr Trump in 2020.

“Any suggestion otherwise is just laughable and absurd,” he added.

Mr Trump has so far made no suggestion he will not run for a second term. And it is extremely rare for members of a president's party – let alone his vice president - to begin preparing so early for that possibility.

But some have made little secret of their wish to find an alternative candidate even if Mr Trump stands again.

In his first six months, Mr Trump has failed to persuade Congress to repeal Obamacare, become further mired in the Russia scandal and seen his approval ratings drop below 40 percent.

His White House appears to be in a state of almost constant crisis with a neverending stream of leaks and dismissals.

Figures who were part of the Never Trump campaign to deny him the 2016 nomination have begun organising for a fresh push.

Bill Kristol, editor-at-large of the conservative Weekly Standard, told The New York Times he begun canvassing support for a "Committee Not to Renominate the President".

High-profile senators such as Ben Sasse and Tom Cotton have made visits to Iowa, while others are courting key donors.

For his part, Mr Pence has set up the Great America Committee, a political fundraising group.

In June he spoke at Senator Joni Ernst’s pig roast in Iowa, the sort of event that attracts political hopefuls building support for election season.

And later this month he is due to address a conference organised by the billionaire Koch brothers, key conservative donors.

Kellyanne Conway, White House counsellor, dismissed the speculation of a shadow campaignand said Mr Trump was intent on being a two-term president.

"It is absolutely true that the vice president is getting ready for 2020 - for re-election as vice president," she told ABC’s This Week.