Pence Joins 2024 Presidential Battleground: How His Odds Stack Up Against Biden, Trump

Former Vice President Mike Pence officially filed the necessary paperwork Monday to launch a bid for the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

The Republican, who served under former President Donald Trump, made his "declaration of intent" to the Federal Election Commission on Monday, Feb. 5.

The campaign is expected to kick off in Iowa on Wednesday, June 7.

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Pence's candidacy comes on the heels of his being cleared of wrongdoing by the Justice Department over his mishandling of confidential documents.

A growing list of political opponents are standing in Pence's way. Here are three:

Donald Trump: Trump's shadow looms large over Pence's campaign. Once pals, the two leaders have been at odds ever since the Jan. 6, 2021 riot on Capitol Hill when Trump's supporters chanted "Hang Mike Pence."

To this day, Trump insists that Pence shouldn't have gone through with the ceremonial role in formalizing the 2020 election results in Congress.

Pence, who previously served as governor of Indiana from 2013 to 2017, has had his share of negative press attention, too — mainly due to his wishy-washy stance against Trump.

While he downplays the 45th President's indictment, he also promises to hold Trump accountable for inciting violence on Jan. 6.

A recent Pence speech in New Hampshire bore a striking resemblance to one Trump made in New York in 2019.

The Trump/Pence administration also increased the total gross U.S. debt to about $26.9 trillion at the end of 2020 — a $7.4-trillion increase during their time in office. Pence's subsequent criticisms of the recent bipartisan debt ceiling deal all but ring hollow.

See Also: Pence Comments On Trump's Candidacy - 'We'll Have Better Choices Than My Former Running Mate'

Ron DeSantis: Pence maintains that he's a "true conservative" and has Super PAC support.

To be considered a viable option for voters come 2024, Pence must contend with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who — like Pence — has military credentials and a penchant for echoing Trump's talking points.

Unlike Pence, DeSantis is gaining in most preliminary election polls.

Last month, Pence's support hovered at around 6%. 

In a separate poll, he trails behind Sen. Tim Scott, who is also running for president.

Pence, who describes himself as a “born-again, evangelical Catholic," may also have trouble winning over Trump diehards, such as "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" author Robert Kiyosaki, who blasted the former VP as a "Judas."

Joe Biden: Pence's chances of beating the sitting president in a general election appear slim. The new betting odds for April show President Joe Biden maintaining his lead as the 2024 election favorite, ranking ahead of Trump.

DraftKings Inc. DKNG also ranked Biden in the lead back in February.

Biden's profile has abeen bolstered as of late due to his success in negotiating with Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on the debt ceiling. 

"I want to commend Speaker McCarthy," Biden said. "You know, he and I and our teams were able to get along and get things done ... We were straightforward with one another, completely honest with one another, respectful of one another. Both sides operated in good faith, both sides kept their word."

The deal marks the latest instance in which Biden has surpassed expectations, including the Democrats' performance in the previous November's midterm elections, during which they secured an additional seat in the Senate and lost the House by a slim margin.

During a recent Oval Office address, Biden enumerated many of the electoral pledges he had followed through on, including sealing special interest loopholes for the affluent, the oil sector, cryptocurrency investors and others.

“Republicans defended every single one of these special interest loopholes. Every single one," Biden said. "But I’m going to be coming back and with your help I’m going to win."

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