LAS VEGAS—Former vice president Mike Pence suspended his presidential campaign on Saturday, acknowledging that he was facing an "uphill battle" and that he was "obviously" not going to secure the nomination.
Pence, who was polling at fifth among Republican presidential candidates, announced his decision in a speech to the Republican Jewish Coalition forum in Las Vegas.
"To the American people, obviously, this is not my time. It's still your time," he said. "Now I'm leaving this campaign, but let me promise you, I will never leave the fight for conservative values."
Pence served as governor of Indiana and as a member of the House of Representatives before becoming vice president in 2016. He broke with former president Donald Trump by certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election. Pence has been critical of Trump’s character and leadership abilities throughout the Republican primary campaign.
Pence, a traditional conservative who has warned about the rise of populism in the Republican Party, called on the audience in Las Vegas to "give our country a Republican standard bearer that will appeal to the better angels of our nature, and not only lead us to victory but lead our nation with civility back to the time-honored principles."
Pence thanked Americans for the "opportunity to be your vice president," and said the "best days for America and our most cherished ally Israel are yet to come."
"We don’t know what the future holds," Pence added, "but we know who holds the future."