"I hasten to add that most of the batteries for electric vehicles are made in China," Pence said Saturday during a first responder roundtable in Nevada, Iowa."But that's almost a China full employment program."Pence had been asked by a firefighter how he would counter the rising costs associated with emergency services.
“This stuff is driving inflation,” the former vice president said."That to me is the last, but maybe best reason to remind the American people to literally tap the brake on electric vehicles, pun intended.”Pence also underscored his support of “institutional” mental health and increasing criminal penalties for people who assault first responders.
Pence is on a three-day trip to Iowa, marking his 15th visit to the first-in-the-nation state as he tries to qualify for the opening Republican primary debate next month in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with another stop earlier Saturday to speak with party activists in Ames. “I absolutely know in my heart of hearts, with all humility, based on the experience that we had, we can bring America back and take us to heights that we never imagined before with new Republican leadership for our party and for our nation,” he said.Former President Donald Trump, the 2024 frontrunner, has an average of 52% support compared to Gov. Ron DeSantis's 18%, according to RealClearPolitics. Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswarmy and Pence have 5%, while former U.N.
Pence has three-weeks to record 40,000 unique donors, with at least 200 from 20 different states, per the Republican National Committee’s debate criteria.