Mike Pence Warns US Republicans: “You Won’t Be Safe” under Joe Biden

Addressing the latest unrest, Pence struck a tough tone.

"Let me be clear. The violence must stop whether in Minneapolis, Portland or Kenosha," he said.

"We will have law and order on the streets of this country for every American."

Touting Trump's strong economic record before the Covid-19 epidemic struck and his ongoing efforts to revive it — Pence urged voters to ask themselves "who do you trust to rebuild this economy?"

A former governor of Indiana, the evangelical Christian Pence has taken on the role of calm counterweight to Trump's constant drama.

As a traditional conservative Pence seeks to reassure old-school Republicans, while also praising the new generation of Trump loyalists — a balancing act that will likely play out within the party ahead of the presidential election in 2024.

Pandemic pointman

Pence is playing an important part in Trump's re-election, crisscrossing the country — with an emphasis on swing states including Wisconsin — to rally support.

He has similarly served as the White House's sober pointman on coronavirus, which has killed nearly 180,000 Americans since Trump's initial, erroneous prediction that it would disappear without trouble.

Where Trump has veered radically between dismissing the crisis and grimly embracing a self-declared role as a "wartime president", Pence has shouldered the unglamorous role of White House coronavirus task force coordinator.

He reached out to the millions of Americans upended by the crisis in a way Trump has appeared unable to do.

"Tonight, our hearts are with all the families who have lost loved ones. We mourn with those who mourn, and we grieve with those who grieve," Pence said.

But in comments sure to draw criticism from opponents, Pence saluted Trump's handling of the pandemic.

"We are slowing the spread, we are protecting the vulnerable, we are saving lives, and we are opening up America again," he said.

Polls show almost two-thirds of Americans are unhappy with Trump's coronavirus response, and Biden's camp said Pence's speech offered "no real discussion of the crushing financial hardship countless families are facing as a result".