Running mate Mike Pence stumps for Trump in Colorado Springs
Dubbed an “ultra-conservative” by the crowd, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s running mate, Mike Pence, was on friendly ground Wednesday in Colorado Springs, home to some of the country’s largest evangelical mega churches.
To a rally of about 400 at The Antlers hotel downtown, Pence introduced himself as a “Christian, conservative and Republican. In that order,” to the cheering crowd.
Pence didn’t directly address the recent controversies that Trump has stirred or even mention his choice to publicly endorse Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, whom Trump has thus far not endorsed.
Rather, Pence focused his speech on Trump’s strengths and telling the crowd about the importance of the election.
“For the sake of the rule of law, for the sake of the sanctity of life, for the sake of our Second Amendment to the Constitution … we must assure that the next president making appointments to the Supreme Court of the United States is President Donald Trump.”
He also warned what would happen if Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton becomes president.
“Hillary Clinton offers a third Obama term,” he said at the same moment a baby in the crowd cried loudly. “My feelings exactly.”
Pence’s reputation for conservatism was welcome at the Colorado Springs rally.
As governor of Indiana, Pence has signed into law restrictions on abortion that some say are the strictest in the nation. In 2015, he also signed into law a measure to allow businesses citing religious freedom to refuse service to gay and lesbian customers.
U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs, said Pence took the lead to defund Planned Parenthood while serving as a congressman from Indiana.
“Because we need Mike Pence as vice president and because we need those Supreme Court nominees, those are just two of the reasons I support Donald Trump as president,” Lamborn said.
Bishop John Brannon, of Living Word Ministries International based in Colorado Springs, said he hoped Pence would help Trump bring back Christian values that he said are lacking in President Barack Obama.
“I don’t see God as having the front seat in America anymore,” he said. “I don’t see him in the passenger seat. I see him pushed to the back of the bus.”
Many in the crowd of Trump supporters said they favored the candidate’s choice for vice president and said it should help the campaign.
“He’s more Christian and more conservative than Trump,” supporter Karen Sifuentes said of Pence. “Hopefully that will help balance Trump out.”
That same conservatism was part of the reason Irene Luckett was one of about 10 protesters outside the rally. The 70-year-old held a sign supporting Planned Parenthood and said Pence “is a nightmare to women.”
“When we heard that he was (the VP candidate), it was like our worst nightmare had come true,” Luckett said.
Before Pence’s visit, Guillermo and Raquel Serna, of a Colorado Gold Star family from Commerce City, issued a statement calling Pence out for not speaking up after Trump’s recent comments toward the parents of a slain Muslim- American soldier.
“As a Gold Star family, we understand firsthand the loss of a loved one, so to see a candidate for president go after a family who has made the ultimate sacrifice is not only worrisome, it is downright offensive … That’s why today we ask Mike Pence to denounce Donald Trump’s statements during his visit to our state,” wrote the Sernas in a statement. They lost their son, Pvt. 2 Ernest Serna, in a plane crash in 1985, when he was 20.
They continued, “Pence’s inexcusable silence about his running-mate speaks volumes about his lack of leadership.”
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Gazette reporter Ellie Mulder contributed to this report.
Vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence spoke to hundreds during a rally stop at the Antlers Hotel on Wednesday, August 3, 2016. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
Dr. James Dobson, found of Focus on the Family, and his wife Shirley Dobson attended the Trump/Pence rally at the Antlers Hotel on Wednesday, August 3, 2016. Pence spoke to hundreds of supporters at the rally. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
Vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence takes the stage with clinched fists with his wife, Karen Pence, by his side during a rally stop at the Antlers Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on Wednesday, August 3, 2016. Pence spoke to hundreds of supporters of the Trump/Pence ticket. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
Vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence greets the crowd after a rally stop at the Antlers Hotel on Wednesday, August 3, 2016. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
Several hundred people attended a rally in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for the Trump/Pence ticket on Wednesday, August 3, 2016. Vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence spoke to the crowd for about 25 minutes. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
Republican Vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence spoke to hundreds during a rally stop at the Antlers Hotel on Wednesday, August 3, 2016. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
City Councilwoman Helen Collins talks to a Trump supporter before Republican vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence talks at a Trump/Pence rally. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn (left) speaks with a friend before the Trump/Pence rally. Lamborn spoke in support of the Republican Trump/Pence ticket. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
Planned Parenthood supporters and pro-choice advocates protest outside the Antlers Hotel in support of Planned Parenthood. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
About a dozen protestors gathered outside the Antlers Hotel in support of Planned Parenthood. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
Republican U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn spoke of his support for the Trump/Pence ticket. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
Republican Vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence takes the stage with clinched fists with his wife, Karen Pence, by his side during a rally stop at the Antlers Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on Wednesday, August 3, 2016. Pence spoke to hundreds of supporters of the Trump/Pence ticket. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
RepublicanVice-presidential candidate Mike Pence spoke to hundreds during a rally stop at the Antlers Hotel on Wednesday, August 3, 2016. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
Republican Vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence spoke to hundreds during a rally stop at the Antlers Hotel on Wednesday, August 3, 2016. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
Several hundred people attended a rally in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for the Trump/Pence ticket on Wednesday, August 3, 2016. Republican Vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence spoke to the crowd for about 25 minutes. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
Republican Vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence spoke to hundreds during a rally stop at the Antlers Hotel on Wednesday, August 3, 2016. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
Republican Vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence spoke to hundreds during a rally stop at the Antlers Hotel on Wednesday, August 3, 2016. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
Republican Vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence spoke to hundreds during a rally stop at the Antlers Hotel on Wednesday, August 3, 2016. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
Dr. James Dobson, found of Focus on the Family, and his wife Shirley Dobson attended the Trump/Pence rally at the Antlers Hotel on Wednesday, August 3, 2016. Pence spoke to hundreds of supporters at the rally. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
Republican Vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence spoke to hundreds during a rally stop at the Antlers Hotel on Wednesday, August 3, 2016. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
Republican Vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence spoke to hundreds during a rally stop at the Antlers Hotel on Wednesday, August 3, 2016. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
Republican Vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence spoke to hundreds during a rally stop at the Antlers Hotel on Wednesday, August 3, 2016. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
Republican Vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence spoke to hundreds during a rally stop at the Antlers Hotel on Wednesday, August 3, 2016. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
After speaking, Republican vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence greet those who attended. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
After speaking, Republican vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence greet those who attended. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
After speaking, Republican vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence greet those who attended. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
After speaking, Republican vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence greet those who attended. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
After speaking, Republican vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence greet those who attended. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
After speaking, Republican vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence greet those who attended. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
After speaking, Republican vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence greet those who attended. photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette