Congressman Pence speaks to rumors

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Congressman Mike Pence rolled through town Thursday in an effort to keep the momentum behind Marlin Stutzman going.

The bus, filled with nearly 50 volunteers and a number of other state office and US congress hopefuls, will stop in 19 counties before it’s all over on Election Day.

The message was clear: Get out to vote, and vote for Stutzman.

“I believe he's ready to be a leader on Capitol Hill from day one,” said Pence. “If, in fact, the American people restore the republican majority on Capitol Hill, the people of Northeastern Indiana ought to know that Marlin Stutzman will be a leader in that rising majority.”

But among the chants and cheers, rumors are floating around the congressman. Reports have come out predicting Pence will step down from his position of Republican House Conference Chairman. The predictions go on to suggest he would do that in order to be free to make a run at governor or president. Pence, however, didn’t even want to discuss the rumors at the rally.

“Obviously we're aware of those press reports and I’ve always been very humbled when people speak about us for higher office, but I'm absolutely determined to stay completely focused on November 2nd,” he said. “I honestly believe discussions about leadership positions, either mine or someone else's, before the voters have spoken on November the 2nd is kind of like looking past the playoffs.”

Experts say three U.S. House seats in Indiana could flip from the Democrats to the Republicans, which is why Pence says he wants to stay focused on getting people like Stutzman to Washington.

“This election is going to be very closely fought. I thought the best thing we could do here in the Hoosier state was to get out…to stand with all the congressional candidates in our state who could be majority makers,” he said.

Assuming Pence wins re-election; he would have to make a decision about his leadership position shortly after Election Day.