The man who would stand to take office if Democrats ever succeeded in impeaching and removing President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, has managed to stay above, and away from the fray, The Washington Post reported.
"He's always in asbestos underwear: He's close to the fire but never gets burned," Michael Steel, a strategist for former House Speaker John Boehner, told the Post. "He's done an incredible job always being out front as a loyal soldier to the president, without ever taking a bullet himself."
Like Thursday, as Democrats and President Trump swapped barbs over impeachment inquiries vs. potential spying in the White House, Pence was in his home state of Indianapolis attempting to push the administration's agenda forward amid obstruction and distractions.
"I came to Indiana to say it's time for Congress to pass the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, and pass it this year," Pence told Indianapolis machinery plant, per the Post.
Pence did say the transcript released of the president's call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has "completely vindicated" President Trump, even as Democrats seek to use it to remove the president, which would surface the vice president to the leader of the free world.
"I'm here to make you a promise — whatever the Democrats and their allies want to spend their time on, President Donald Trump and I are going to stay focused on the issues that matter most to you," Pence told the Indy crowd, per the Post.
Pence is the right mix of loyal but at a distance from the controversy, according to University of Virginia historian Russell Riley.
"There is a conundrum with being the vice president of the United States in a controversial administration, because everybody knows that you are the heir apparent in case something happens," Riley told the Post. "You have to be exceedingly guarded."
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