In the face of what may be the most serious threat to the American homeland during his presidency, President Trump has made a stunning and groundbreaking decision: he actually gave the vice president an important job, Jake Novak writes.
attacking Pence's health care policy experience, perceived obsequious relationship with Trump, and even his religious devotion.
Also lost in all the mostly partisan criticism of Trump's choice is a more important fact: Pence has just been given the most pressing and urgent role that any vice president has had in American history. Not all vice presidents have been relegated to minor roles, but nothing comes close to Pence being asked to lead the federal government's response to this immediate health and economic threat.
Usually, vice presidents become invisible or just popular punchlines. President Eisenhower set the modern standard for vice presidents when his response to a question about then-Vice President RIchard Nixon's role in major White House decision making was:Of course, this historically new role also means Pence is facing a tremendous political risk and reward depending on how the coronavirus plays out here in the United States.
There are still other factors at play, the biggest one being the 2020 election results. If Trump doesn't win reelection, Pence's chances to win the GOP nomination and the White House in 2024 would be greatly diminished no matter what happens with the coronavirus outbreak. The same will be true if Trump does win reelection, but the nation suffers a major economic collapse like the one that befell President George W. Bush in his second term.
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