Fresh off vice presidential debate, Pence rallies in Nevada

BOULDER CITY, Nev. (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence applauded President Donald Trump on Thursday for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, his opposition to abortion and his support for police.

Pence even credited the president with winning the vice presidential debate Wednesday between Pence and Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris.

“Some people think we did all right,” Pence said as he opened his remarks at a rally in Boulder City, Nevada. He went on to cast the debate held the night prior in Utah as a debate between two visions.

“There’s no question who won the debate: President Donald Trump won the debate, hands down,” he said.

He repeated many of the points he made during Wednesday's debate, criticizing former Vice President Joe Biden and his running mate Harris, portraying Biden as ineffective in his years serving in the U.S. government and pushing back against the notion that there is systemic racism in police departments

“President Trump and I know, we don't have to choose between supporting law enforcement and supporting our African American neighbors,” he said. “Under this president, we're going to have law and order in every city in every state for every American of every race and creed and color, so help us God."

Pence's praise for the president and pitch for another four years in the White House comes 26 days before the election as Nevada voters began receiving ballots in the mail. Nevada, which Trump lost by a slim margin in 2016, is considered a battleground.

While the president has been recovering from the coronavirus in Washington, Pence said Trump would be “back on the campaign trail before you know it.”

The vice president, campaigning in Trump's stead, planned to hold a rally in Peoria, Arizona, on Thursday afternoon.

In Nevada, Pence spoke to about 250 people, less than half of whom were wearing masks as they sat outside at the Boulder City airport. Attendees were sitting in folding chairs that were spaced out but closer than the 6 feet (2 meters) apart recommended by health experts to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus.

Pence was introduced by his wife, Karen Pence. Former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt and Republican congressional candidate Dan Rodimer, a former professional wrestler, also spoke at the event.