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U.S. NEWS Monday 17 october 2022
GOP hopefuls turn to Pence to broaden appeal before election

By JILL COLVIN serve to know Blake Mas-
Associated Press ters may be the difference
NEW YORK (AP) — In Don- between a Democrat ma-
ald Trump’s assessment, jority in the Senate and a
Mike Pence “committed Republican majority in the
political suicide” on Jan. 6, Senate,” Pence said.
2021. Pence, along with Masters
By refusing to go along with and Gov. Doug Ducey,
the former president’s un- took just three questions,
constitutional push to over- two of them from conser-
turn the results of the 2020 vative websites. When a
election, Pence became television reporter noted
a leading target of Trump’s that Masters has ques-
wrath and a pariah in many tioned the 2020 election, a
Republican circles. spokesman for Masters cut
But the final weeks of the him off before he could fin-
intensely competitive 2022 ish his question.
election suggest the former Masters is not the only elec-
vice president’s fortunes tion denier Pence has en-
have shifted as he lays the dorsed or assisted.
groundwork for his own po- Two days after the Masters
tential campaign for the event, Pence was in Geor-
White House in 2024. gia headlining a fundraiser
The man who was booed Former Vice President Mike Pence gestures as he addresses the Convocation at Liberty University, for Burt Jones, the nominee
last year at a conserva- Sep. 14, 2022, in Lynchburg, Va. for lieutenant governor.
tive conference is now an Associated Press Jones not only embraced
in-demand surrogate for race on Nov. 8 and what Pence has spent much of results, recording a video in Trump’s claims of wide-
Republican candidates, is expected to be a hotly the past year pushing back which he said he thought spread election fraud and
including some who spent contested stop in the 2024 on Trump’s election lies, Trump had won. Masters called for a statewide in-
their primaries obsessively presidential campaign. which spurred the violent claimed on his website vestigation into the 2020
courting Trump’s endorse- Last week, Pence endorsed mob that descended on that, “if we had had a free race, but also signed on to
ment, in part by parroting Senate nominee Blake the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and fair election, President be one of his state’s fake
Trump’s election lies. Masters, who has struggled while Pence was trying to Trump would be sitting in alternate electors — a
Pence has been traveling to pivot from the primary preside over the formal the Oval Office today.” scheme that is now under
the country, holding events to win over moderates in congressional certification Trump said when he en- criminal investigation.
and raising millions for can- a state where one-third of of Joe Biden’s presidential dorsed Masters in June: Last month, Pence cam-
didates and Republican voters are registered inde- victory. Pence and mem- “Blake knows that the paigned in New Hamp-
groups, including signing pendents. “He takes a little bers of his family had to “Crime of the Century” shire for Senate nominee
fundraising solicitations for bit of the edge off Masters be rushed to safety and took place, he will expose Don Bolduc, a retired Army
party committees. with a lot of voters,” vet- held for hours in an under- it and also, never let it hap- general who also spent his
For some campaigns in eran GOP strategist Scott ground loading dock as pen again.” primary campaign telling
tight races, Pence is seen Reed said. “You know Mas- the marauders roamed the Pence made no mention of voters the 2020 race was
as something of a neutral- ters is new to this, first time hallways, some chanting, that in Phoenix on Tuesday. stolen from Trump.
izing agent who can help candidate, said some silly “Hang Mike Pence!” and “What I came here to Arizo- Marc Short, a longtime
broaden their appeal be- things he probably regrets erected a makeshift gal- na to say is not only is Blake Pence adviser, declined
yond Trump’s core base during the campaign.” lows outside. Masters the right choice for to set a red line for candi-
of support. That includes Yet the endorsements can Masters, during the primary, the United States Senate, dates Pence would and
Arizona, with a key Senate seem jarring given that baselessly denied the 2020 the people of Arizona de- would not endorse.q

Marine Corps halts surf use of combat

vehicle after mishap

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. day. tions were halted after one
(AP) — The Marine Corps The vehicle had a “me- of the vehicles rolled onto
has halted some opera- chanical malfunction,” its side and another was
tions of its new amphibi- according to the Marine disabled in unusually high
ous combat vehicles after Corps, which banned the surf on July 19 during an-
one of the armored vehi- vehicles from going into or other training exercise. The
cles rolled over in surf dur- out of surf zones, except for pause was lifted last month.
ing training off California’s testing, while more analysis The new vehicles, which Amphibious Assault Vehicles storm Red Beach during exercises
Camp Pendleton. is performed. are being tested and used at Camp Pendleton, Calif., June 2, 2010.
The eight-wheeled vehicle The vehicles can still be in California, are designed Associated Press
flipped over at about 7:45 used on land, in protected to transport troops and
p.m. Thursday at the Ma- waters and in the open their equipment from Navy Eight Marines and one A Marine Corps investiga-
rines Assault Amphibian ocean. ships to land. They are be- sailor died on July 30, 2020 tion found that inadequate
School at the base north of It was the second time this ing rolled out to replace the when an amphibious as- training, shabby mainte-
San Diego, authorities said. year that restrictions have Marine’s aging amphibious sault vehicle sank in 385 nance and poor judg-
The three crew members been placed on the use assault vehicle, which is feet (117 meters) of water ment by leaders led to the
weren’t injured, a Marine of amphibious combat ve- lighter, slower and runs on off San Clemente Island in sinking.q
Corps statement said Fri- hicles. Open water opera- tracks instead of wheels. Southern California.