U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, R-Ind., Wednesday formally announced his campaign for Republican Leader in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Spence sent a letter to his colleagues, explaining his platform:
"I am running for Republican leader because we didn't just lose our majority, I believe we lost our way ....
"Our opponents will say that the American people rejected our Republican vision. I say the American people didn't quit on the Contract with America, we did. And in so doing, we severed the bonds of trust between our party and millions of our most ardent supporters....
"Only by making a dramatic turn in the direction of the agenda of the Republican Revolution can we hope to attain majority status again..... We must again embrace the notion the Republicans seek power not simply to govern but change government. We are the agents of change and we must return to that reformist vision....
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"I believe we must confront this moment with new leadership and new voices. We must take a page from the playbook of President Ronald Reagan who taught us that it is not enough to believe great things, we must effectively communicate great things to the American people."