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US election: Trump v Clinton
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‘Horrified’: Mike Pence gets more than he bargained for as Donald Trump’s running mate

Pence has refused to defend Trump’s lewd remarks about women, perhaps with a view to mounting his own presidential campaign in 2020

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The Republican presidential ticket: Donald Trump (left) and Mike Pence, his running mate. Photo: Reuters
Associated Press

Mike Pence has long described himself as a “Christian, a conservative and a Republican in that order”.

Now, the Republican vice-presidential nominee and his priorities are facing a critical test as Donald Trump, staggered by his recorded vulgarities about women, careens towards the second presidential debate against Democrat Hillary Clinton – beginning 9am on Monday HKT.

Trump has vowed to stay in the race but Pence’s advocacy for Trump came to a screeching, perhaps temporary, halt on Saturday in the hours after Trump released a video apologising for 2005 remarks in which he describes his aggressive conduct toward women. Pence said in a statement about Trump that he won’t “condone his remarks and cannot defend them”.
We impeached Bill Clinton and we cannot impeach Trump off the ballot. But I wish there was a mechanism to do so
Mike Murphy, public relations strategist

“We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when he goes before the nation tomorrow night,” the Indiana governor said.

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It’s more evidence of the trials facing the Republican ticket’s No. 2 that could serve Pence well if he runs for the top spot in 2020. Pence dare not speak about that possibility. To do so would assume Clinton prevails on November 8. But plenty of people are engaging in presidential talk about Pence, including Republican members of Congress, governors, a former presidential candidate, and more.
Senators Mike Lee of Utah and Mike Crapo of Idaho are calling on Trump to quit the campaign so Pence can lead the ticket. Senator Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire says she’ll write in Pence’s name on the ballot – not Trump’s.
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Pence cancelled his appearance at a Wisconsin rally on Saturday with House Speaker Paul Ryan. Pence would have been expected to advocate for Trump.

“I’m sure he’s horrified,” said Mike Murphy, an Indiana public relations strategist who’s known Pence for more than two decades. “We impeached Bill Clinton and we cannot impeach Trump off the ballot. But I wish there was a mechanism to do so.”

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