Arizona Republican Party chairman Robert Graham warms up the Tucson crowd for an afternoon speech by Republican VP candidate Mike Pence.Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence told a cheering Tucson audience Tuesday the party is moving in a singular direction going into the general election.
"We are united," Pence told an almost full house of 1,000 at the Fox Tucson Theatre downtown. "We are coming together."
Pence's speech and responses to audience questions expanded on the Republican Party's positions on many issues, including one comment that, "Firearms in the hand of law-abiding citizens make communities more safe."
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's running mate called on audience members to thank police officers in the auditorium and said, "Donald Trump will support our law enforcement." At one point, he asked veterans to stand and be recognized, to sustained cheers and applause.
In response to a question about how a Trump administration would make amends to Israel for how the Obama administration's relationship with it has been, Pence called the Middle Eastern country "our most cherished ally."
He also said a Trump administration would work to lift the ban on political involvement by religious organizations, thus protecting their tax-exempt status.
The crowd cheered "Trump! Trump! Trump!" at pauses during the speech, and shouted "USA! USA! USA!" as Pence concluded his formal remarks before taking questions.
One protester was removed by security guards from near the front of the theater after he began shouting, "You are not welcome here."
Pence, who is governor of Indiana, was scheduled to head to Phoenix for a Tuesday evening town hall appearance there.
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