Vice President Mike Pence's wife, Karen, visited Florida State University Wednesday to launch an initiative aimed at growing the little-known field of art therapy.

  • Dozens of demonstrators assembled outside event
  • Pence positioning himself for run if Trump doesn't seek re-election?
  • White House supporters also on hand to send message

The effort will be a top priority for the second lady, whose swing through Florida's capital city was also marked by dueling demonstrations involving her husband's political career.

While Mrs. Pence used an invitation-only event to discuss the promise art therapy has shown in helping treat conditions ranging from cancer to post-traumatic stress disorder, dozens of demonstrators assembled outside. The vice president's critics, kneeling in an ode to the NFL controversy Pence has recently joined President Trump in fanning, held up signs declaring 'Mike Pence Hates Gays' and 'Color the Gay Away'.

"I'll be honest; I have absolutely nothing wrong with art therapy, and I know that's what she's physically here for, but I was saying to a couple people here the term "therapy" carries an extremely negative connotation with the Pence family and their support of shock therapy to try to convert LGBT youth," said FSU student Noah Hertz.

For the second lady's entourage, it was a decidedly unwelcome distraction from what was intended to be a policy-centric appearance.

"I want to encourage more young people to go into this profession, and I think it's great that you have such an amazing program," she told administrators and students representing FSU's nationally-recognized art therapy program. "I can't believe the number of students you have in art therapy here. That is just phenomenal."

While the toxic controversies consuming the Trump administration have generally energized progressive activists, much of Wednesday's protest was inspired by the vice president's recent travels. Pence has headlined Republican dinners in Alabama, Ohio and Tennessee and plans to keynote the Republican Party of Florida's Statesman's Dinner on Nov. 2. Reports from Washington have suggested Pence is positioning himself to run for president should President Trump not run for re-election in 2020.

Which is why the White House's political supporters also turned out on Wednesday.

"I do want Trump to run for reelection, but if for whatever reason he didn't, I think Pence would be a great person to try to pick up the mantle," said Stefan Babin, a member of the FSU College Republicans "He's done a lot for the administration, a lot behind the scenes."

If Wednesday's campus demonstrations were any indication, however, the vice president is, in fact, becoming a more visible player on the nation's political stage, with his other half sharing in the fruits - and the occasional pitfalls - of his rise to prominence.