Mike Pence will enter presidential race ‘well before late June’ - if he does at all

Mike Pence has not decided whether to enter the Republican presidential primary but if he does he will enter "well before late June".

The former congressman, Indiana governor and vice-president to Donald Trump has been moving towards a run for months, releasing a memoir, visiting early voting states and establishing a political staff.

He made his less-than-bold prediction in an interview with CBS Face the Nation.

"I think if we have an announcement to make, it'll be well before late June," Pence said, adding: "Anyone that would be serious about seeking the Republican nomination would need to be in this contest by June.

"If we have an announcement to make it will be well before then."

Pence must perform a balancing act, distancing himself from Trump, the rival candidate whose supporters chanted for Pence to be hanged when they attacked the US Capitol, while trumpeting their achievements together in office.

It seems a doomed effort in a party and primary dominated by Trump, particularly as Pence recently dropped attempts to avoid testifying in the justice department investigation of the January 6 attack.