advertisement

The Latest: Pence returning to Indiana after tornadoes hit

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on Mike Pence in the U.S. presidential race (all times EDT):

7:20 p.m.

Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence is turning his attention from campaigning to his home state of Indiana after tornadoes struck the state.

Indiana's governor, Pence was campaigning in North Carolina on Wednesday when multiple tornadoes touched down in central Indiana. Initial reports describe a large tornado moving across the Howard County town of Kokomo and damaging apartment buildings and automobiles and cutting power.

In a tweet, Pence says he is returning to Indiana and asks, "Please keep Hoosiers in your prayers."

___

5:20 p.m.

Mike Pence says "pay-to-play politics is over and done" if Donald Trump is elected president.

The Republican vice presidential candidate aimed his comments at Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee. They came after The Associated Press reported that 85 people from private interests who met with or had phone conversations scheduled with Clinton while she led the State Department donated to her family's Clinton Foundation.

Pence spoke Wednesday at a rally in Leland, North Carolina. He repeated Trump's call for the Clinton charitable foundation to be closed and an independent prosecutor be named to examine the link between foreign foundation donors and her State Department work.

___

4:40 p.m.

Mike Pence has received a memento from his visit to a manufacturing plant in North Carolina, and it may end up around his dog's neck.

During his tour Wednesday of operations at Manufacturing Methods in Leland, workers presented the Republican vice presidential nominee, his wife and others with round metal key chains. The "Trump Pence" campaign logo had been cut into each of the trinkets with a machine that shoots water and abrasives at 50,000 pounds per square inch.

Pence sounded impressed with the work, but told company employee Hunter Phillips that it might not show up on the ring for his car and house keys.

Instead, Pence said, "I might put it on my dog."

___

11:45 a.m.

Republican vice presidential candidate Gov. Mike Pence is blaming both Democrats and Republicans for the decline of manufacturing in the United States.

The Indiana governor was addressing about 200 people Wednesday at Charlotte Pipe and Foundry in North Carolina.

He said policies by both Republican and Democratic administrations have eroded America's manufacturing industry. Pence also said the country has been neither smart nor tough in defending U.S. jobs from international trade. He said that will change if he and Donald Trump are elected in November.

Pence, wearing a hard hat and safety glasses, toured the manufacturing portion of the plant, shaking hands with some workers.

Republican vice presidential candidate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence speaks at the Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) The Associated Press
Republican vice presidential candidate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence speaks at the Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) The Associated Press
Republican vice presidential candidate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence speaks at the Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) The Associated Press
Republican vice presidential candidate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence speaks at the Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) The Associated Press
Republican vice presidential candidate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, left, gets a tour at a Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company plant in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) The Associated Press
Republican vice presidential candidate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence speaks at the Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) The Associated Press
Republican vice presidential candidate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, right, talks to workers during a tour at a Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company plant in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) The Associated Press
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.