Mike Pence urges dissenting Iowa Republicans to 'come home'

FORT DODGE, Ia. — Vice presidential candidate Mike Pence gave a rousing speech here Thursday, issuing a plea to round up every vote possible for the Republican presidential ticket while arguing that Democrat Hillary Clinton would bring a failed, status-quo agenda to the White House.

Pence, a former congressman who has served the past four years as Indiana's governor, spoke to an enthusiastic crowd of about 300 people as he characterized the Trump-Pence ticket as on a mission to restore greatness to America. He assailed Clinton as weak on national defense and foreign policy, and he contended Democrats offer an economic program that would stifle business growth.

"Men and women of Fort Dodge: Leave here today and cast a vote and bring a friend and family member, and tell your friends and neighbors to get it done," Pence said. But he also pleaded with Iowa Republicans and conservatives who have parted ways with Trump to "come home."

Pence spoke at Iowa Central Community College as a new statewide poll was released by Quinnipiac University, which showed the presidential race in a dead heat in Iowa with both Trump and Clinton at 44 percent support. A Des Moines Register-Mediacom Iowa Poll conducted earlier this month had shown Trump with a 4 percentage-point lead over Clinton.

Iowa is seen as a battleground state that could be critical to the outcome of the Nov. 8 presidential election, which has resulted in repeated trips here by both presidential campaigns. Pence arrived here after addressing a rally earlier Thursday in Omaha, Neb., that included voters from western Iowa, and both major presidential candidates plan Iowa stops Friday, with Trump in Cedar Rapids and Clinton in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines.

Pence appeared laser-focused on ensuring that every possible Republican vote is placed in a ballot box. He read the address of where Fort Dodge residents can cast their votes early, and he saluted supporters who wore stickers saying they had already voted. He insisted the Trump campaign has momentum in a race that appears to be tightening nationally despite national media coverage that he contends is one-sided in support of the Democratic rivals.

Pence declared that voters face a choice in the election between a better country under Trump or weaker national security, bad trade deals and a departure from American ideals under Clinton.

"Now is the time to reach out in Iowa to all of our Republican and conservative voices and to say, 'It is time to come home,'" Pence said. "It is time to come home and make sure that Hillary Clinton is never elected president of the United States of America."

Pence, who was introduced by U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Kiron, drew cheers throughout his remarks, and people waved Trump signs and applauded when he was finished. Many picked up Trump lawn signs as they left the event.

"It was fantastic," said Rhonda Olson, a seamstress from Fort Dodge. "It's time for a revolution and Trump is going to be the head of it. He is going to lead us to a new world."

Sarah Schumack of Fort Dodge, a 24-year-old academic assistant at the community college, said she was inspired by Pence and has decided to vote for the first time ever.

"I have never really cared in the past. But I think that this is a really important election," she said.

In response to Pence's visit, Clinton supporters in Des Moines urged Iowans to vote for tolerance and respect and to back Clinton.

U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison in a press release said the decision that Americans make about who they elect as president speaks volumes about their values and what they want the country to represent.

“Hillary Clinton has spent her entire career fighting for others, especially the disadvantaged, because she believes in an America where every person has the opportunity to succeed and is treated with respect and dignity," Ellison said. "Donald Trump, however, has threatened that vision by dividing the country with his hateful rhetoric and constant bullying of Americans without any remorse for the people he’s hurt."