Lauren Fox contributed reporting.
By the time the vice presidential debate came to a close Tuesday night, many conservatives had concluded that Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) had a better debate performance than Donald Trump and were longing for a Republican presidential ticket with Pence at the top.
When asked if Trump could learn anything from Pence’s debate performance, former Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA), a Trump supporter on hand in the post-debate spin room at Longwood University, said, “Yeah, everything.”
“I thought Pence did a superior job,” Brown added. “Donald Trump, as I said before, missed a lot of easy softball responses last time.”
Conservative pundits on Twitter noted that Pence outperformed Trump, some wishing that Pence was the presidential nominee.
Former Ted Cruz spokeswoman Amanda Carpenter:
So my best hope for 2016 is that Trump wins, gets impeached in January, and Pence is POTUS by Feb. We down with this?
— Amanda Carpenter (@amandacarpenter) October 5, 2016
If the RNC would sell a PENCE 2016 sticker with Trump crossed off of it, I could buy it.
— Amanda Carpenter (@amandacarpenter) October 5, 2016
National Review editor Rich Lowry:
If Trump had been half as good as Pence last Monday, the race might look different right now
— Rich Lowry (@RichLowry) October 5, 2016
Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol:
Pence’s foreign policy is fine. Too bad it isn’t Trump’s.
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) October 5, 2016
National Review writer David French:
Donald, are you taking notes? This is how you pivot to your opponent’s weakness.
— David French (@DavidAFrench) October 5, 2016
Townhall politics editor and Fox News contributor Guy Benson:
And viewers couldn’t help but see how much better Pence is than Trump. https://t.co/CrjEYuB4Fu
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) October 5, 2016
Weekly Standard writer Stephen Hayes:
Pence speaks the language of conservatives in a way Trump does not and cannot. Has to be reassuring to some iffy GOPers.
— Stephen Hayes (@stephenfhayes) October 5, 2016
Pence was able to avoid being baited into defending Trump. Trump was not.
— Stephen Hayes (@stephenfhayes) October 5, 2016
Daily Wire editor Ben Shapiro:
Man, wouldn’t it have been awesome if we’d actually nominated the guy who wins debate with conservative ideas instead of the idjit.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) October 5, 2016
Former Fox News contributor and “The View” co-host Jedediah Bila:
Pence is doing what Trump didn’t do on the Clinton Foundation and foreign donors/access. Well done on that.
— Jedediah Bila (@JedediahBila) October 5, 2016
— Jedediah Bila (@JedediahBila) October 5, 2016
Conservative radio host Dana Loesch:
Pence is bringing up all the issues Trump failed to mention in the first presidential debate. #VPdebate
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) October 5, 2016
Pence had smart strategy for answers. He didn’t let Kaine throw him or get under his skin. He met provocation w grace. LESSON HERE #VPdebate
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) October 5, 2016
Daily Caller writer Jamie Weinstein:
How will Trump react to media saying Pence a far better debater than him?
— Jamie Weinstein (@Jamie_Weinstein) October 5, 2016
Pence even earned praise from Erick Erickson, one of the NeverTrump movement’s leaders:
Pence has convinced me conservatives should not write him off for 2020 just by being Trump’s VP nominee. He was solid.
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) October 5, 2016
