Being second in line for leadership of the most powerful country in the world is not an easy job. But for Mike Pence, vice-president under Donald Trump, things were even harder than usual.

$0/

(min cost $0)

Login or signup to continue reading

As insurrectionists descended on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, they had a specific target in mind - the outgoing vice-president. They built a wooden gallows, and called out for him by name: "Hang Mike Pence! Hang Mike Pence!"

As the extensive congressional hearings into the insurrection later documented, the threats were not hollow. One informant told FBI investigators that "if given the chance", certain far-right insurrectionists would have tried to kill him. Pence escaped with his life, but only just.

The insurrectionists, as a federal investigation alleges, were drawn to the Capitol by Trump, who had just lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden. They were after Trump's VP because, as one later claimed, he had "betrayed" Trump by not refusing to certify the election results.

The job of vice-president of the United States is not a normal one at the best of times. The person chosen to run alongside Trump in this year's election will no doubt be keeping Pence's experience in mind. It will likely be someone who can convincingly pledge undying loyalty to Trump. The former president - and his supporters - will expect nothing less.

Speculation over who that person might be is heating up, and Trump, as usual, is relishing drawing out the process in order to gain as much attention as possible. So, who - and how - will he choose?

A vice-presidential candidate is usually chosen based on a political........

© Canberra Times