Pence to speak at Erickson’s conservative conference in Atlanta

Vice President Mike Pence speaks in support of then-gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp at the Dalton Convention Center on Nov. 1, 2018. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Vice President Mike Pence speaks in support of then-gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp at the Dalton Convention Center on Nov. 1, 2018. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Vice President Mike Pence is set to speak Friday at a conference in Atlanta organized by conservative pundit Erick Erickson.

The exact time of the Republican's event at The Resurgent Gathering is up in the air, but Erickson said in a post that the two are expected to talk on stage about President Donald Trump's re-election plan.

Pence is one of several high-profile Republicans who will speak at the event, which will also feature Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, U.S. Sen. David Perdue and U.S. Rep. Doug Collins.

Erickson has for years organized events for grassroots conservatives, but perhaps his most notable came in 2015. That was when Erickson's RedState Gathering attracted several presidential candidates – and dozens of headlines after Erickson banned Trump from attending.

Erickson, a blogger and WSB radio host, has long since abandoned the "Dump Trump" mantra and he recently endorsed the president's 2020 bid.

Later Friday, Pence is also expected to headline a fireside chat with his former top aide, Georgia operative Nick Ayers, at the annual Teneo retreat.

Teneo’s mission is to recruit and promote young conservatives, and Ayers’ conversation with Pence will focus on how the vice president became a conservative, the ideas that shaped his worldview and foreign policy issues.

Pence's arrival will make Georgia a curious political crossroads. Even as Republicans gather at the Grand Hyatt in Buckhead, the Democratic Socialists of America will hold a weekend convention at the Westin Peachtree Plaza in downtown Atlanta.