VP Mike Pence: ‘The Road To Victory Goes Straight Through Pennsylvania’

Sep. 10--Join the conversation

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Vice President Mike Pence said Wednesday afternoon that he chose to visit a Beaver County natural gas well for one reason: "Pennsylvania and America need four more years of President Donald Trump in the White House."

"I'm here to roll up my sleeves up because the road to victory goes straight through Pennsylvania," Pence told several hundred Trump supporters at the Penn Energy fracking site in New Sewickley. "You said yes to President Donald Trump in 2016, and from where I stand, I think Pennsylvania is going to say yes to four more years."

Pence's roughly 30-minute remarks touched on many of the same topics Trump did during his rally that drew some 5,000 attendees to Latrobe last week, including restoring "law and order," clamping down on sanctuary cities and increasing the nation's energy independence by supporting the likes of fracking-related companies.

"We ended the war on coal," Pence told the crowd. "We unleashed American energy."

Energy workers in hard hats sat in risers on either side of Pence as he spoke against a large banner draped across water tanks and flanked by yellow cranes spelling out the event's theme in all caps: "JOBS! JOBS! JOBS!"

"It's a good setting for this because it gives Mike Pence the chance to show an example right here on a well pad," said Ed Eisenbrown, 56, whose 64-acre farm in New Sewickley was able to benefit financially from the fracking industry by selling drilling rights.

"This company has created a ton of jobs in this area and made life better for a lot of folks," said Eisenbrown, who sported a Penn Energy ball cap. "So that's why we're here to support both Penn Energy and the Trump administration and Mike Pence to continue that, and in a safe manner, too."

Despite Democrat Joe Biden's recent pledge in Pittsburgh that he does not intend to ban fracking, Pence painted the choice between Trump and Biden as one between supporting natural gas industry jobs and threatening to eradicate them.

"To me, he just forgot what he said before," said Pence, citing prior remarks by Biden earlier this year and last year related to rolling back the reliance on fossil fuels and limiting new fracking projects.

"Joe Biden wants to bury our economy through an avalanche of red tape, like his own version of the Green New Deal," Pence said, prompting a barrage of boos. "We rolled back federal red tape, we unleashed American energy like never before."

Pence on pandemic, vaccine

Pence lauded the Trump administration's response to the covid-19 pandemic, including Trump shutting down travel to China and ramping up the availability of testing in more recent months. He pledged to get businesses open as quickly as possible.

"We are opening up America again, and we are opening up America's schools," Pence said to loud applause.

"Now, our hearts go out to all of the families who have lost loved ones during this pandemic, including more than 7,000 families still grieving in Pennsylvania," he said. "We want them to know they will always be in our hearts. And they're in our prayers.

"But we're continuing to work our way through this time as a nation. ... Even though Joe Biden said no miracle is coming, we're on track to have a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine this year," he said to loud applause and chants of, "Go Trump!"

Pence criticized Biden and vice presidential running mate Kamala Harris for questioning whether the Trump administration had the ability to oversee the safe rollout of a vaccine.

After praising the sacrifices of law enforcement and the importance of First Amendment rights, Pence criticized protests that do not remain peaceful.

"Rioting and looting is not peaceful protest," he said. "Burning businesses is not free speech."

He also pledged to get more conservative-minded Supreme Court justices, touched on his pro-life stance and ended with a focus on God and prayer.

"It's so wonderful to hear a leader of our country to thank God and to be able to say 'God' and 'Merry Christmas,' " said Constance Purdy, 71, a retired school bus driver of Hanover. " ... And you know one thing about President Trump, you know where you stand with him. He's not a polished politician per se, but you know where you stand with him."

When asked if she had anything critical to say about the Trump administration, Purdy replied, "Not a thing."

"President Trump is the greatest president we've had," said Shelley Buchanan, 62, office manager of Burgettstown. "He's made promises and he's kept them. He's the most pro-life president we've ever had. He's not afraid to stand up to what he believes him, and he fights back because he's attacked first."

Pence gave nods during his speech to Sean Parnell, the GOP challenger to U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, D-Mt. Lebanon. Parnell took the stage to introduce Pence, as well other Republican guests Congressmen John Joyce and Mike Kelly.

To secure Pennsylvania's 20 electoral votes, Trump needs to retain or expand his slim 2016 lead of 44,000 votes. Biden must close the gap by reaching out to wavering Republicans and getting more people in general to vote.

Republican leaders argue Trump strongholds remain around the state and support is growing in some areas, buoyed by GOP platforms such as promoting more natural gas industry development and deregulating businesses.

"It's not just about Trump. It's about the idea that the country has to come first," said Ann Murphy, 60, of Sewickley. She pointed to the appreciation of Trump and Pence taking the time to visit struggling suburbs and towns outside of major cities. And she said that Pence's devotion and respect for Trump gives her confidence that Trump is "a good man behind closed doors."

Although the president lost Allegheny County and Philadelphia in 2016, large margins in the state's rural and suburban counties pushed him over the top.

Polling in recent weeks shows Biden with a 3- to 8-point lead statewide, with at least one Rasmussen poll in late August finding the candidates tied at 46% each.

"It's on, Pennsylvania," Pence told the crowd. "I need you to bring it."

Natasha Lindstrom is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Natasha at 412-380-8514, [email protected] or via Twitter .

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