Vice President Mike Pence has reached a rare stage in his drive to marshal the Right for President Trump’s 2020 reelection, becoming the administration’s Mr. Conservative.
Heritage Foundation President Kay Coles James put it this way: “There’s an instinctual trust that conservatives have with Vice President Pence that’s been built through nearly two decades of working together.”
Pence has been on a mission to strengthen relations with conservative and evangelical groups, and now he is also helping them with their mission.
Heritage told Secrets Sunday that Pence will be the keynote speaker at its first-ever black tie gala at its annual President’s Club meeting on Oct. 22. It is the group’s biggest donor event, and could push Heritage into record fundraising territory.
Secrets recently reported that in just one weekend event in May, it raised $14.2 million.
Pence has attended several conservative events over the summer, including one-time Never Trumper Erick Erickson’s huge Resurgent Gathering. At the time, Erickson told us, “I think the vice president coming to this event sends a big signal that the Trump team takes nothing for granted in the run up to 2020 and also that they understand mobilization of conservatives will be a key part of their strategy.”
Last week Pence gave a key trade speech at Heritage where he praised the group that has supplied the administration policy papers and staffers.
“I have to be honest with you, Heritage Foundation will always feel like home,” he said. “I mean, the truth is, Heritage Foundation has been a bulwark. It’s been a bulwark of freedom and a leading defender of the Constitution now for almost a half a century,” he added.
James paid back the compliment, telling Secrets, “He has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us in the biggest battles. He’s fought in the pro-life trenches. He’s an advocate for religious liberty, a defender of the Second Amendment, and a champion of free markets, individual freedom, and limited government.”
The Heritage fundraiser brings in hundreds of conservative donors to hear key officials. It is also when the group names its annual Clare Boothe Luce Award winner. Last year the think tank’s highest award went to Thomas A. Saunders III, chairman of the Board of Trustees.
