GOP VP nominee Mike Pence makes low-key stop in Mesa

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, the 2016 Republican vice-presidential candidate, put a softer focus on GOP White House contender Donald Trump on Thursday during a low-key appearance at a Mesa church.

Pence, the mild-mannered foil to the brash Trump, talked up the Republican ticket's family values as he spoke in the solidly conservative Phoenix-area city known for its significant Mormon population, a religious constituency whose members often tilt Republican but this year have signaled resistance to Trump's playboy lifestyle and personality.

Making his third appearance in the state since accepting his party's vice-presidential nomination in July, Pence spoke at Living Word Bible Church, 3520 E. Brown Road, to a crowd of about 900 people, who appeared to fill half of the venue's seats.

Largely skipping the typical Trump campaign talking points, Pence focused on family, faith and the GOP ticket's shared belief in the American dream.

"All you need to know about Donald Trump is he loves his family and he loves this country," said Pence, a former congressman.

Pence noted his Irish immigrant roots, and said that Trump's grandfather also was an immigrant and Trump's father was a self-made man.

"I tell the people, I mean, other than a whole lot of zeroes, Donald Trump and I have a lot in common," Pence said. "The passion that we both feel for the American dream. When Donald Trump talks about that we will make America great again, I have to tell you what he means is that, from the day we arrive in the White House, I promise you the Trump-Pence team is going to work our hearts out every day."

"I love to tell people: You know, common-sense conservative principles work every time you put them into practice. I mean, they really do."

Those principles are working in Indiana and in Arizona, where "your governor, Doug Ducey, is a good man and a good leader, and he's doing a great job," Pence added.

"In Indiana, we did just exactly what Donald Trump is talking about doing: We've cut taxes every year that I've been governor, we've balanced budgets, we've made historic investments in education, in infrastructure," Pence said. "... Today, in the state of Indiana, I'm humbled to tell you, we have more Hoosiers going to work than ever before."

'Cause of life'

During a question-and-answer session with Tom Anderson, Living Word Bible Church's founder, Pence highlighted the Republican ticket's anti-abortion bona fides.

"I speak on behalf of my wife and I, I would tell you there is no more important cause to the Pences than the cause of life," Pence said.

Likewise, Trump "has made a clear commitment to the sanctity of human life," Pence added, saying it is important to elect Trump so he can nominate U.S. Supreme Court justices.

Pence spent just a few moments on what is perhaps Trump's signature issue: ending illegal immigration. "We're going to build a wall, and Mexico is going to pay for it," he said.

Arizona, usually taken for granted by Republicans as a red state in presidential elections, has gotten an abundance of attention from Trump and Pence. This year, polls have indicated an unexpectedly close race in the state between the Trump-Pence team and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and her running mate, Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia.

How often do presidential candidates visit Arizona?

Trump has made five campaign visits to Arizona as a presidential candidate. Pence has made two solo appearances in addition to an Aug. 31 joint appearance in which Trump outlined his anti-illegal-immigration agenda in a high-profile speech.

The last Democrat to carry Arizona was President Bill Clinton in 1996; before that, it was President Harry Truman in 1948.

Most in the Mesa crowd were die-hard Trump and Pence fans.

Dave Bergstrom of Gilbert said he isn't worried about Arizona turning blue this election. "This is a Republican state and they are going to vote for the Republican and not for the (expletive)," he said.

Mesa resident Paul Williams said he was pleased to see Pence and Trump "are on the same page."

He sees himself as a voter who judges each candidate on their merits rather than by party affiliation. "I thought Bill Clinton did an all right job, but everything they touch seems to be corruption," he said.

"I think Trump is going to get more of the black vote, more of the Hispanic vote and win in a landslide," Williams said.

Pete Heredia of Chandler entered the event as one of the few who said he is still unsure who to vote for this year, or whether to do so at all.

"Honestly, I'm still up in the air. They're both not ready," the 29-year-old said before Pence spoke. Afterward, he left pleased the governor had selected his church for the event. "I think I'm going to be going for Trump," he said.

Heredia's wife, Shelly Aguilar, has been a Trump supporter all along.

"I'm Mexican-American. My dad came here legally," she said. "I guess I've seen both sides of it. I've seen more bad than good (from the current immigration system). I'm totally against that."

Mood sedate before Pence's speech

Matthew Meinecke with Take Up the Cross Ministry steadied a large white, wooden cross that towered over him as he stood in the church parking lot Thursday evening. He was among several Trump-Pence supporters who gathered outside before the event.

Where Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton - and third parties - stand on the issues

Unlike appearances in the Valley by his running mate that drew throngs of pro- and anti-Trump demonstrators, the mood outside the venue before Pence’s speech was sedate.

Meinecke said his fierce anti-abortion stance is what led him to support Trump from the day he announced his presidential campaign last summer. He’s attended every Trump and Pence event in Arizona so far.

When it came to Pence’s Mesa appearance, Meinecke said he wanted to hear a positive message.

“I want to hear strength,” he said. “I want to hear that America is going to be safe and that we’re cracking down on illegal immigration.”

Before coming to Mesa, Pence delivered Trump's law-and-order and national-security campaign messages at a town-hall-style session in Colorado Springs, Colo., a conservative area in what is considered a presidential battleground state.

Republic reporter BrieAnna J. Frank contributed to this article.