With most eyes (and media attention) in Political World focused on Donald Trump, the three indictments handed down over the last five months, and the questions swirling around all of them, it’s been a challenge for the other 2024 GOP presidential candidates outside of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to get much attention.
Mike Pence, who is the former governor of Indiana and who was also Trump’s vice president, tried to break through the noise machine on Tuesday with the release of an energy plan in response to the steep rise in gas prices – and increasing energy dependence – that has occurred on President Joe Biden’s watch.
“In order to win the future, America must have the energy capacity to independently power our economy and lead the world’s energy future,” read the energy plan page on Pence’s campaign website.
“By lifting artificial government restrictions, ending preferences, and encouraging private production of every variety of American energy, President Pence will make certain America leads the world again,” it also read.
Along with the release of the plan came a 60-second ad Pence cut in which he reminded voters about what the average price of gas was when he and Trump left office in January 2020 compared to how it has skyrocketed under Joe Biden, with average gas prices hovering as of Tuesday at $3.84/gallon according to the AAA gas price checker.
At first glance, it just looks like Pence is pumping gas in what presumably is his truck like any normal person:
Check out our Pence Plan ⬇️⬇️⬇️https://t.co/v1PvB3411Q pic.twitter.com/ltVuvCK3El
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) August 8, 2023
But watch it again closely and you’ll notice a few things are off. For starters, Pence never selects a fuel grade. Secondly (and because of that), his finger isn’t clutching the lever used to pump the gas. He also fails to pay for the gas as no credit or debit card is in sight:
WATCH: Fmr. VP Mike Pence pretends to fill up a pickup truck with gas in campaign ad — but forgot to select the fuel grade pic.twitter.com/Ib27vHYYr2
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 8, 2023
Political commentator Pat Gray noted the beeping sound in the background and alerted Pence as to what he forgot to do.
“Hey Pence that beeping you are hearing is the sound to select the fuel grade,” Gray helpfully pointed out.
Another hilariously quipped about how in his view Pence was a “psycho” who “can’t be trusted” for not having a bed liner in his truck.
And then there was this meme:
Mike Pence lets the “select a grade” beeper sound the whole time he pretends to pump gas https://t.co/ZZjbgAiT8D pic.twitter.com/LHsyKbb8h5
— ᴍʏ ᴡɪʟʟᴏᴡ ᴍᴇᴍᴇꜱ🇺🇲 (@MyWillowMemes) August 8, 2023
In all seriousness, though, was this ad a disqualifying moment for Mike Pence’s presidential campaign? Of course not.
But it does provide a timely reminder for politicos of all stripes that perhaps the best way to at least give off the appearance of being an average American is to not release heavily staged campaign videos showing you looking anything but.
Flashback: Mike Pence Accused of Playing From ‘Shrug and Give up’ Playbook in Backwards Disney Attack on Ron DeSantis
