Pence pokes fun at slow caucus count while in South Carolina

Pence pokes fun at slow caucus count while in South Carolina

SeattlePI.com

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CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — While not technically a campaign visit, Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday made a trip to South Carolina an opportunity to rail on Democrats for their failed attempt to oust President Donald Trump from office and for having difficulty tabulating results following last week's Iowa caucuses.

“President Donald Trump was acquitted forever," Pence said to cheers and applause at a dinner in his honor at The Citadel military college, referencing the Senate impeachment trial.

Pence also took the opportunity to criticize House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for ripping up her copy of Trump's State of the Union remarks, musing, “I didn't know if she'd ripped up the State of the Union speech or the Constitution."

Pence's visit comes amid a whirlwind of political attention on South Carolina, which holds its Democratic presidential primary on Feb. 29. On Wednesday, Trump said he would “probably” hold a campaign rally in the state, as he has done in other early voting states, including Iowa and New Hampshire. Next week, he's slated to travel to Nevada, which holds its caucuses Feb. 22.

Citing cost savings and high levels of support for Trump in the state, South Carolina’s Republican Party in September opted not to hold a primary this year, a move that's not unusual for the party of the White House incumbent seeking reelection. But the effort has also helped Trump consolidate his support as Democrats have worked to winnow their large candidate field.

There is no party registration in South Carolina, meaning that Republicans would be free to cross over and vote in the Democratic primary. Some Republican groups in the conservative state have said they are trying to organize efforts to encourage Republicans to vote for progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders, angling to take support away from former Vice...

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