Capping the the second to last day of the Conservative Political Action Conference, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence said Friday that it is time to rebuild the nation’s military to confront bad actors around the world and to protect the nation.
Mr. Pence, a former congressman, said, in the keynote address at the CPAC Reagan dinner, that the 2016 election could turn on foreign policy thanks to the missteps of the Obama administration on the global stage, and called on conservatives to embrace “America’s role as leader of the free world.”
“I believe the time has come to dramatically increase defense spending to confront the unknowable and knowable threats,” he said. “Without rebuilding our military, no strategy or innovation, no matter how brilliant, will be sufficient to protect the American people and the sovereignty of the United States.”
The 55-year-old is up for re-election in the Hoosier State in 2016, but also is thought to be toying with the idea of running for president.
Mr. Pence is viewed as a long shot at best and has said he is likely not to make decision until sometime in the spring. He joked Friday that he is fond of the idea of a governor becoming the GOP nominee for president.
The annual conservative gathering has featured a laundry list of potential presidential candidates as well as the who’s who of the conservative movement.
In his speech, Mr. Pence said it is a time for choice in the United States.
“You either choose to view America as a shiny city on the hill that inspires the best in all mankind or you don’t,” Mr. Pence said. “You either want American to stand with her friends and up to her enemies, or you don’t. You are either for limiting the power of the federal government or you are not. You are either for protecting the unborn and the religious liberty of every American, or you are not.”
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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