VP Pence Rallies Police, Latter-Day Saints Voters In Arizona

ARIZONA — Vice President Mike Pence stopped in Tucson and Mesa on Tuesday to rally law enforcement and Latter-day Saints groups to re-elect President Donald Trump in November. Arizona is seen as a battleground state in the Nov. 3 election.

The vice president touched down in Tucson just after 10 a.m. and was greeted by Gov. Doug Ducey and U.S. Sen. Martha McSally. He departed shortly afterward for the Westin La Paloma resort in Tucson, where he accepted the endorsement of the Arizona Police Association.

A protester began yelling just as Pence came out on the stage, railing against the vice president and promoting the Black Lives Matter movement. The man was detained, and the vice president began his remarks without missing a beat, bringing "greetings and gratitude" from Trump to the crowd of law enforcement personnel. He also gave nods to Ducey and McSally, who he said "will always back the blue," as well as Republicans Tiffany Shedd and Brandon Martin, who are running for Congress in November.

Pence acknowledged the many families who have lost loved ones during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic but said first responders deserve respect for their work in the last few months.

"None have done more to save American lives than health care workers, first responders and the men and women of law enforcement," said Pence.

He admonished Democratic politicians for making law enforcement out to be "the enemy" during the outbreak of protests that followed the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. He specifically called out former Vice President Joe Biden and said that a Biden administration would lead to "socialism and decline" instead of the "freedom and opportunity" offered by four more years with Trump in the White House.

"We don't have to choose between supporting our law enforcement and supporting our African American families," Pence said. "We can do both."

He said his administration will never support defunding the police and dismissed opposition to Operation Legend, named after a 4-year old who was gunned down, which has sent federal officers to large cities like Portland.

"You are what separates us from the chaos," he told the crowd. "Law enforcement isn't the problem — law enforcement is the solution."

He then headed to Mesa in the east Valley to launch "Latter-day Saints for Trump," a new coalition of pro-Trump Mormons. Pence was greeted at Sky Harbor International Airport by leaders from the Navajo Nation, Arizona Republican Party Chair Kelli Ward and Tyler Bowyer of conservative group Turning Point USA.

The Mesa event began shortly after Biden named Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) as his running mate. Pence welcomed his Democratic counterpart to the race and set the stage for the first vice presidential debate Oct. 7.

"Congratulations — I'll see you in Salt Lake City," he said to boos from the crowd.

He was introduced by McSally and Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Mesa), who is a member of the LDS church. Throughout his remarks, Pence touched on many of the talking points he spoke on in Tucson, namely railing against Biden's policies and touting the Trump administration's commitment to strengthening the economy. But his emphasis on religious freedom was new for the crowd full of LDS members.

He said the real reason he came to Arizona is because the stakes have never been higher as the country heads into the election.

“The choice in this election is whether America remains America,” Pence said.

He assured the crowd that the president is committed to protecting religious freedom for Americans of all faiths and called Trump "the most pro-life president in American history." The vice president also vowed that the administration will release in September a list of conservative potential nominees for the U.S. Supreme Court to draw from if the opportunity presents itself.

Pence concluded his speech by asking for attendees to pray for the country during an uncertain time.

“The foundation of America is freedom," he said, "but the foundation of freedom is faith.”