Former Vice President Mike Pence announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential race on Wednesday. In his campaign launch, he positioned himself as a figure in the mold of Ronald Reagan. However, some have criticized his record as a loyal supporter of former President Donald Trump.

During a CNN town hall in Iowa on Tuesday, Pence faced fact-checking on some of his claims. The town hall covered a range of issues, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and voting rights. Pence has faced criticism for his handling of the pandemic as head of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, which he defended during the town hall.

In contrast, a letter to the editor published in NJ.com says they are not interested in a Pence or Chris Christie candidacy, calling the two former Trump “toadies.”

Meanwhile, Pence’s former boss has been targeted in his campaign. At a conference in California last week, Pence criticized Trump’s handling of the Capitol riot on January 6, calling it “a dark day in the history of the United States Capitol.”

This criticism has led some to wonder whether the Pence campaign is aimed at courting moderate or anti-Trump Republicans.