Indiana Gov. Mike Pence’s ability to tone down and defend the rhetoric of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has many GOP leaders singing his praises.

But his role as Trump’s running mate has drawn the spotlight away from his own widely criticized decisions as governor that make him a polarizing figure in his own right.

With Trump as the center of attention, the controversies Pence encountered during his first term as governor seem to have taken a back seat, and have yet to be consistently targeted by Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

Had he declined to accept the vice presidential nomination or not been selected, Pence would have faced a tough re-election battle at home that some insiders and pundits contend he would have lost — though it might not be apparent from the success he is having on the national stage.

Not only did surveys conducted earlier this year show that Pence’s job approval ratings had fallen significantly from the early days of his governorship, but support from Hoosier Republicans had dwindled as well.