Pence says he’s ready to take on Trump at debate

DES MOINES — Former Vice President Mike Pence told The Hill in a brief interview Friday that he’s ready to take on former President Trump when the first GOP presidential debate takes place this month in Milwaukee.

“I think I’ve been preparing for this debate my whole life,” Pence told The Hill. “I spent a lifetime in the Republican Party and in the conservative movement … I think I’m going to be the most consistent and experienced conservative on that stage.” 

It is unclear if Pence will be sharing the stage with his former boss, who has yet to say whether he’ll take part in the first debate. Trump is far and away the front-runner for the party’s presidential nomination despite a growing list of legal problems.

Pence, an experienced debater, betrayed no worry about the unusual situation.

“My objective is going to be really twofold: Number one … I want the American people to hear my vision for the future of the country. And number two, I want them to hear the choice that they’re facing among the various candidates, including my former running mate, because I think I’m the one voice that wants to keep our party grounded on that broad base conservative agenda that’s always carried us to victory over the last 50 years and will carry us there again,” he said. 

Pence argued that he was the “most consistent, proven conservative” that would be taking the debate stage Aug. 23, claiming the other candidates were “shying away” from core Republican beliefs.

“It’s a commitment to a strong national defense, American leadership in the world, fiscal responsibility and growth, traditional values and the right to life,” Pence told The Hill.

“I see my former running mate and other leading candidates in this field that are shying away from those long-standing Republican beliefs, and I’m going to make sure that people that are watching back home understand that we’re the most consistent, proven conservative on that stage and I can’t wait to get there,” he added.

Pence’s remarks come amid a daylong visit to the Iowa State Fair, where he participated in a chat with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) earlier in the day and took to the political soapbox on Friday. 

Pence largely avoided criticizing the former president in his speech, instead focusing on more bread-and-butter GOP issues. But Pence sought to make a more clear contrast against himself and the other candidates during his brief interview.