Vice President Pence seeks Hispanic, vet vote in Arizona

PHOENIX (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence is making a swing through Arizona set to appear as the reelection campaign of Republican President Donald Trump works to solidify its support among veterans and Hispanics in the battleground state.

Pence's visit comes at the end of a week that saw the president, his daughter Ivanka Trump and Pence's wife, Karen, make stops in the state. Republicans are trying to shore up their position in a historically red state where polling shows Democrat Joe Biden with a slight advantage.

Pence appeared at Grand Canyon University in the morning for a roundtable hosted by the Libre Institute, a right-leaning group that says it engages and informs the U.S. Hispanic community on the benefits of a free and open society, limited government, free enterprise and property rights.

Accompanied from the airport by Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, Pence heard from a pastor, physician, businesswoman and others at a roundtable before a small, distanced and mask-wearing crowd at the university gym.

He touted the president's economic policies, including tax cuts, lower regulation and the new trade deal with Mexico and Canada, then wrapped up the talk by touting conservative ideals.

“Latinos need the free market and the free market needs Latinos,” Pence said. “We’ve heard about faith, we’ve heard about family, we’ve heard about caring for those in need, we’ve heard about entrepreneurship.”

"I want to thank you for your passion," he added.

Pence then headed to a resort in the Phoenix-area city of Litchfield Park for a “Veterans for Trump” event.

Veterans and Hispanic voters are key constituencies the Trump campaign is targeting.