RE: Hard to become president if you only win 1.8% of the vote.
I don’t think Mike Pence has shown any inclination of running for President at all. It’s the pundits who are proposing that he run.
I disagree. I think his decision to seek the governor's mansion over congressional leadership positions is a clear sign he wanted to go the executive route. I don't necessarily think he was thinking 2016, but definitely setting up for a future run at some point.