There really is only one conceivable explanation for Pence's candidacy: A higher power must have told him to run. That means either some deity Pence prays to, or “Mother.” Smart money is on the latter on account of her being real.
His main problem is that the voters he needs to win know that he exists, but they wanted to hang him a couple of years ago.
https://whowhatwhy.org/cartoon/dear-god-what-is-mike-pence-thinking/