The Latest: Biden heaps praise on Donnelly at Indiana rally

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The Latest on dueling rallies former Vice President Joe Biden and current Vice President Mike Pence are having in Indiana to support Senate candidates (all times local):

9:15 p.m.

Former Vice President Joe Biden has brought his blue-collar appeal to a Democratic stronghold of Indiana, heaping praise on Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly as the kind of guy who keeps his word, puts country over party - and would have his back in a street fight.

Biden told a crowd in the heavily industrial northwest corner of Indiana on Friday that, "Joe is as good a man as I know."

He says that "if there's any time we needed character in the United States Senate, it's now."

Donnelly is in a tight race for re-election against Republican businessman Mike Braun. The contest could determine which party controls the Senate.

Vice President and former Indiana Gov. Mike Pence spoke at a rally for Braun in Indianapolis at about the same time.

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8:10 p.m.

Vice President Mike Pence is telling a crowd in Indianapolis that a vote for Indiana Democrat Joe Donnelly is a vote to turn the U.S. Senate into the liberal "center of the resistance."

The former Indiana governor was in his home state Friday for a fundraising dinner, where he urged Republicans to turn out in force for GOP businessman Mike Braun.

Donnelly is among a handful of Democrats running for re-election in states President Donald Trump won. He and Braun are locked in a tight race that could determine control of the Senate.

Pence says Braun will be a loyal supporter of Trump. But re-electing Donnelly could hand the reins of the Senate to New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, who is the Senate Democrats' leader.

Pence says that would lead to "unprecedented obstruction."

Former Vice President Joe Biden was appearing with Donnelly at about the same time at a rally in northern Indiana.

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12:54 a.m.

Sen. Joe Donnelly is bringing in help in his effort to run up the vote in the Democratic stronghold of northwest Indiana.

Vice President Joe Biden, who has blue-collar appeal and presidential ambitions, will campaign with Donnelly Friday in this heavily industrial corner of the state.

But Biden won't be the only vice president paying a visit to the state.

Vice President Mike Pence will be appearing at a fundraising dinner in Indianapolis around the same time to rev up support for Donnelly's rival, Republican businessman Mike Braun.

Indiana has been a reliably red state in recent years, but the two are locked in a close race that could determine which party controls the Senate.