How would losing as Trump's VP effect Pence for 2020

[Likely Voter]

We all generally agreed that if Rubio loses his run for Senate, his hopes for 2020 are probably over.  What about Pence? He considered running in 2016 so he is interested in the job.  By running for VP and losing, does that help him by building up his name ID, or hurt him by being associated with Trump?

[Kingpoleon]

As long as Trump gets over 200 EVs and 46%+, Pence could run for the House or Senate in 2018, or Governor in 2020. The former two could set him up for a run in 2020.

[Mr. Morden]

My gut instinct is that it increases the probability that he'll run for president in 2020, but (slightly) decreases his chances of winning.

[Horsemask]

My gut instinct is that it increases the probability that he'll run for president in 2020, but (slightly) decreases his chances of winning.

Agree with this

[Slander and/or Libel]

As long as Trump gets over 200 EVs and 46%+, Pence could run for the House or Senate in 2018, or Governor in 2020. The former two could set him up for a run in 2020.

If he runs for the Senate and wins in 2018, and campaigns for president in 2020, that means he'd have perhaps 2-3 months on the job before skipping out to start interviewing for another one. Seems pretty craven, and I doubt the voters of his state would take all that kindly to it.

[Kingpoleon]

As long as Trump gets over 200 EVs and 46%+, Pence could run for the House or Senate in 2018, or Governor in 2020. The former two could set him up for a run in 2020.

If he runs for the Senate and wins in 2018, and campaigns for president in 2020, that means he'd have perhaps 2-3 months on the job before skipping out to start interviewing for another one. Seems pretty craven, and I doubt the voters of his state would take all that kindly to it.

Kasich didn't start anything until June. If Pence ran for House, where he already has connections, he could announce in, say, early August and focus on one state(either Iowa or a Southern early stage like SC) while spending the rest of the time in D. C., at least until January.

[mencken]

As long as Trump gets over 200 EVs and 46%+, Pence could run for the House or Senate in 2018, or Governor in 2020. The former two could set him up for a run in 2020.

If he runs for the Senate and wins in 2018, and campaigns for president in 2020, that means he'd have perhaps 2-3 months on the job before skipping out to start interviewing for another one. Seems pretty craven, and I doubt the voters of his state would take all that kindly to it.

Kasich didn't start anything until June. If Pence ran for House, where he already has connections, he could announce in, say, early August and focus on one state(either Iowa or a Southern early stage like SC) while spending the rest of the time in D. C., at least until January.

And look where that got Kasich.

[Kingpoleon]

Third place is pretty bad.

[Likely Voter]

It seems to me that Pence made a shrewd calculation. It was entirely possible that he would lose his run for reelection and that would kill his future. However, if he runs for VP then win or lose he still has a shot to win the GOP nomination in 2020 or 2024.   

[Mr. Morden]

As long as Trump gets over 200 EVs and 46%+, Pence could run for the House or Senate in 2018, or Governor in 2020. The former two could set him up for a run in 2020.

If he runs for the Senate and wins in 2018, and campaigns for president in 2020, that means he'd have perhaps 2-3 months on the job before skipping out to start interviewing for another one. Seems pretty craven, and I doubt the voters of his state would take all that kindly to it.

Kasich didn't start anything until June. If Pence ran for House, where he already has connections, he could announce in, say, early August and focus on one state(either Iowa or a Southern early stage like SC) while spending the rest of the time in D. C., at least until January.

But what is the point of returning to Congress, just to immediately start running for president?  Pence will already be a former member of Congress and former Governor, and the most recent Republican VP nominee.  He'll already have enough experience, and I don't see how a few more months in Congress is going to boost his national name ID beyond what it'll already be from his VP run.  So why bother with that, when you can just skip right to running for president, if that's what your goal is?

[Kingpoleon]

If he's legitimately not decided in, say, March of 2018, Congress gives him something to hold onto until 2024. He was the Chair of the Republican Conference for two years(2009-2011), so he could call on some old friends and pull rank to run for Whip, Majority Leader, or Speaker if Scalise, McCarthy, or Ryan retires between 2021 and 2024. He will just be 65 in 2024, so even if he became Speaker in 2021 or 2023 he could either run for President in 2028 as an incumbent Speaker or in 2024.

[Suburbia]

If Trump-Pence loses, then Pence will probably run for Senate in 2018 against Joe Donnelly, and he could potentially win in a Republican-favored year. Or, Pence could run for the House again in 2018 and try to be Speaker of the House by the late 2020s. Or, Pence could run for Governor or President in 2020, but if he runs for governor again in 2020 he runs the risk of being politically expedient.

[Mister Mets]

He'd start out as one of the top-tier candidates for President. One advantage is that the likely top competitor would be Paul Ryan, who would be in the same situation as a former losing candidate for Vice President.

Much of it would depend on whether he can avoid serious gaffes as a national candidate, but he would be well-positioned. He is certainly going to get a good boost in name recognition.

I don't think he'll run for Senate, as that's going to involve a lot of campaigning, and limit his ability to make some money.

[BuckeyeNut]

One of few politicians who would not be hurt by the exp.

[Orser67]

Pence's selection for the national ticket immediately makes him one of the frontrunners for 2020. Instead of one many governors/senators, he (and Paul Ryan) is a vetted national candidate with household name id. If Pence can keep some separation between himself and Trump and avoid any major gaffes, I think that Pence will be fine. Ryan, Edwards, and Lieberman weren't adversely affected by being on a losing national ticket. There will be some people that resent Pence for going along with Trump, but I can't imagine the party being purged of anyone who supported Trump's nomination after he's been endorsed by McConnell and Paul Ryan.

[RogueBeaver]

Not at all, because he was never in that conversation.