INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is joining Ted Cruz on the presidential campaign trail on Monday, amid criticism that his endorsement of the Texas senator was tepid.
Last week, the governor praised Donald Trump and expressed support for John Kasich while announcing that he would vote for Cruz. Following harsh criticism, Pence published an op-ed about his decision, and he will appear at two Cruz campaign events on the eve of his state’s primary.
Pence’s endorsement of Cruz was panned by Beltway insiders, but it appears to have earned a much warmer reception in the Hoosier State.
Carmel Mayor James Brainard, a co-chair of Kasich’s campaign in Indiana, said he thought the governor’s initial remarks made to WIBC in favor of Cruz were “very clear.”
“I think, you know, people in Indiana are nice,” Brainard said. “He didn’t want to say anything bad about the other two and just being pleasant, it’s the way Mike Pence is. I think several of the media outlets have read too much into that. That’s just the way Hoosiers are. They’re nice people.”
John Jessup, a Trump supporter running for local office in Hancock County, said Pence’s endorsement of Cruz would not change his support for Pence in a potentially tough re-election year for the governor.
Pence’s decision may have actually rankled some Cruz supporters more than those who will vote for Trump or Kasich.
“I think it could have been a little bit stronger, but I supported it,” said David Milliner, an attendee at a Cruz event in Lafayette, of Pence’s endorsement.
“It’s positive to have his endorsement, it would have been nice if it had been a little more resounding, a little more up front,” said Brian Colgan from central Indiana. “But something is better than nothing anyway.”
Other Cruz supporters thought the endorsement may hurt Pence and have a negligible effect on Cruz.
“I don’t know how well it will help because Pence is kind of a controversial governor,” said James Reid, a Cruz supporter from the south side of Indianapolis. “With the [Religious Freedom and Restoration Act] and just a lot of people down by us seem to kind of, I mean they’re more liberal people, but they don’t really seem to like him that much. So I’m just not sure how well it’ll help him.”
Pence’s campaigning with Cruz on Monday will garner plenty of attention, but it may leave a longer-lasting imprint on the minds of Hoosiers deciding whether to support the governor’s re-election bid in the fall than on those voting in Tuesday’s primaries.
