Mike Pence enters race for 2024 as 'vicious knife-fight' with ex-boss Donald Trump looms

Pence, who turns 64 on Wednesday, is expected to personally launch his bid for the Grand Old Party (GOP) nomination on his birthday.

A spokesman for the ex-Indiana Governor has confirmed Pence's FEC filings.

Pence was once a loyal ally to ex-President Donald Trump.

He served as Trump's Vice President from 2017 to 2021 but a rift grew between the pair after the former Commander-in-Chief attempted to overturn the 2020 election.

Pence, a staunch social conservative, even alleged Trump encouraged the rioters who attacked the Capitol on January 6.

The ex-Vice President was notably endangered during the incident and his family were in Congress at the time.

Pence joins an ever-increasing number of Republicans challenging Trump for the GOP nomination.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott and anti-woke businessman Vivek Ramaswamy have entered the race.

Commentator Larry Elder, ex-Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, tax consultant John Anthony Castro, businessman Perry Johnson, former local mayor Steve Laffey and ex-Montana Secretary of State Corey Stapleton make up the remaining candidates.

It is not yet known how Pence could fare against Trump and the other GOP candidates.

The 63-year-old recently polled in a distance third place with just five per cent support, a Premise survey has revealed.

However, a former Trump campaign aide suggested Pence could prove problematic for his former boss.

The 2020 campaign veteran told GB News: "Simply because of the dynamic, all the air will be sucked out of the room once Pence is officially in.

"I think the new Trump team will welcome the opportunity but Pence has the upper-hand.

"This is a knife-fight and it will be vicious."

They added: "Pence knows how everything works.

"He knows where all the weak spots are.

"Things are going to get really interesting."

Despite some external wariness, those close to the 45th President remain confident that Trump will see off his Republican rivals.

Jason Miller, a senior adviser to Trump, told GB News: "This week's additions to the presidential race are joining only because Ron DeSanctimonious has proven to be an inept campaigner and his opponents smell blood in the water.

"The race for second-place is about to heat up."

Mark Burns, once dubbed Trump's top pastor, also said: "Pence is a good Christian man.

"I'm friends with him but he's not President Trump and President Trump is what America needs right now."

He added: "There is a song by one of my favourite groups, the Jackson 5, it's titled I'm Going Back to Indiana.

"I'd suggest former Vice President Pence put that song on continuous loop and head home, back to Indiana."

However, Republican fundraiser Noelle Nikpour suggested Pence could use his faith to forge a path to victory.

Nikpour said: "It's still between Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump but that's not to say there's not an opportunity for him to create a space for himself.

"He's an authentic man of faith and has to figure out what his path to victory would be."

GOP strategist Amy Koch warned Pence could split the anti-Trump vote and make it easier for the 45th POTUS to win the nomination.

She said: "I worry so many candidates will split the 'not Trump' vote but it also sends a strong message given he is the former Vice President.

"So much depends on how these teams decide to wrestle the elephant in the room - former President Trump."