Donald Trump’s Running Mate Brings Message To Bucks County

Donald Trump’s running mate gave a measured but focused campaign speech to several hundred supporters in a Central Bucks County business.

Mike Pence, a conservative Republican who serves as governor of Indiana, was greeted with thunderous applause by the 400 or so supporters who came out Tuesday afternoon to the large warehouse of Worth and Company, a mechanical, heating and air conditioning manufacturer, based in Bedminster Township, which is just north of Doylestown.

“This movement is united and the people are united. We’re going to make Donald Trump the next president of the United State of America,” Pence told the crowd.

Pence, known in Indiana for speaking on message and not diverting much from the script unlike his running mate, stayed on message and seemed to be well liked by the crowd.

“We want a stronger America,” Pence said. “So let’s decide here and now. Let’s put Pennsylvania on the board in 77 days.”

Pence took swipes at the media all while his aides offered water bottles to reporters and made sure their press area was correctly set up. Shortly after bashing the media creating the narrative that the media was to blame for Trump’s various controversies, he cited mainstream media reporting on the email scandal that has plagued Hillary Clinton and the foundation named after her husband.

“The last couple weeks, it’s been a cascade of controversy,” Pence said about the Clinton Foundation. He added that “Americans are sick of pay-to-play politics.”

Pence told supporters that Clinton should not be able to serve as president because she lied about the cause of the Benghazi attack that left an American ambassador and security personnel dead in Libya in 2012.

A vocal portion of the crowd shouted “lock her up” during the rally. One man had a shirt that read, “the H in Benghazi is silent.”

Sign at the rally. pic.twitter.com/zoA1UXziEG

— Tom Sofield (@BuxMontNews) August 23, 2016

Pence promised that if Trump was elected president this November he will lower the marginal tax rate, decrease business taxes and get rid of the death tax. He also said Trump would immediately rescind all of President Barack Obama’s executive orders that are “crushing jobs.”

“We will elect one of the most successful negotiators on planet Earth to be president … We will make sure trade agreements work for the American workers first,” the candidate told the crowd.

In addition, Pence said the Trump administration will “end the war on coal and unleash the boundless potential of American energy.”

Aside from taking swipes at the media and Clinton, he said the election system was rigged and called out problems with politicians on both sides of the aisle in Washington D.C.

During his speech, Pence, the father of an American serviceman,  promised a Trump administration will rebuild military, confront radical Islamic terrorism, stand by law enforcement, cut taxes, grow the economy, repeal Obamacare, build strong borders, build a wall, upend status quo and uphold the Constitution.

Photos From Mike Pence’s Visit To Bucks County

Pence compared Trump, a businessman from New York, to popular Republican President Ronald Reagan during his remarks Tuesday.

“I want you to leave here today and talk to your neighbors and friends about the stake of this election,” Pence said. He added that the liberties Americans enjoy were handed down by God and Trump would make Republicans proud.

The audience cheered after Pence pointed out Nancy Smith, the mother of Sgt. Joshua Smith, who took his life after serving his country.

Before he left the stage to greet supporters, Pence said that if Trump was elected “he will work every day to “make America great again.”

Reviews of Pence’s speech were positive from the crowd, which was mainly white and predominately in their 40s and above.

Joanne Cramer of Quakertown said Pence hit all the right notes and solidified her vote in November. “Trump and Pence absolutely love our country,” she said.

“He spoke the truth – it’s what America needs,” said Mary Brockway, a resident of Quakertown.

Jim, a resident of Doylestown who did not wish to have his last name published, said he came out to the event to learn a little more about Trump’s running mate. Before Tuesday, Jim had only heard of Pence but he felt the speech taught him everything he needed to know about the man running to be second-in-command if Trump wins the presidency.

“What he was saying is true,” Jim stated. “I’ve been saying the same thing for years.”

“Mike Pence and I served in Congress together, and I was glad to welcome him to Bucks County today. Overall, he conveyed a positive message, reflective of his genuine character, which focused on creating quality jobs for hardworking Americans,” Republican Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick said after watching Pence speak.

The president of Worth and Company said he was “privileged to have the opportunity to showcase our company.”  

Outside the facility on Applebutter Road, several pro-union protesters held signs upset that the company is a non-union shop.

With just 77 days until election day, Bucks County is considered one of the most important areas in the country for both Democrats and Republicans. The speech took place at a company that is operated by a family that donates to Republican candidates and hosted presidential candidate John McCain during a stump event in 2008.

Pence visited Bucks County after a stop in King of Prussia, Montgomery County. The stop included a trip to a Norristown barbershop where the barber had no idea who Pence was until his haircut was over.  

Pence left the Bedminster warehouse in a small motorcade made up of local, state and federal law enforcement. A secret service agent said the vice presidential candidate would board a plane at Philadelphia International Airport and head to his next campaign stop.