CHARLOTTE, N.C. _ Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence returned to Charlotte on Monday for his campaign's first rally since the disclosure of a video showing Donald Trump speaking about women in vulgar sexual terms � and threw his support fully behind the presidential nominee.
"It's been an interesting few days," said Pence, who was quiet in the immediate aftermath of Trump's comments. He said Trump "literally embodies the spirit of America" and that he's proud to stand with Trump.
Pence's visit to Charlotte comes as other prominent Republicans have pulled back support from Trump or urged him to withdraw following the release of the 2005 tape Friday. The visit from Pence was also the first campaign appearance by a candidate in Charlotte following Sunday's second presidential debate.
On Monday, the Washington Post reported that Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican, said he would no longer campaign with or defend Trump and freed other House Republicans to do the same. Other Republican leaders to stop backing Trump include Ariz. Sen. John McCain and New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, both in re-election races.
"My faith informs me we're to hold up a godly standard," said Pence, whose remarks put to rest any rumors he would quit the ticket. "But we all fall short of the glory of God. There's no one righteous, other than The One."
"I don't condone what was said," said Pence, who talked about the centrality of his Christian faith in his life. "But the other part of my faith is grace ... We're called to forgive as we've been forgiven."
"It takes a big man to know when he's wrong," said Pence, speaking in front of an audience of nearly 400. "Donald Trump last night showed he's a big man."
One audience member asked Pence how he would heal the racial divisions in the U.S. following police shootings of black men. Protests that turned violent at times rocked Charlotte last month after Charlotte-Mecklenburg police shot and killed Keith Lamont Scott, 43. Pence said that the public deserves an "immediate and transparent review" of such shootings, but also said people need to respect the police.
"Enough of those who would seize on these tragic moments to divide us and demean people who serve in law enforcement," said Pence.
Pence sought to shift the focus of the race back to Clinton, drawing jeers from the crowd whenever she was mentioned, and talking about key conservative issues, such as building up the military, cutting taxes, repealing regulations, repealing the Affordable Care Act and appointing conservative justices to the Supreme Court. He linked Clinton to President Barack Obama and said the foreign policy from her time as secretary of state had weakened the U.S. position and led to more turmoil in the Middle East.
"History teaches us that weakness arouses evil," said Pence. "The weak and feckless foreign policy of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ... are all a testament to this truth of history."
He also promised to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement and other trade deals that Trump says hurt American workers.
"Trade means jobs, but it's first going to mean American jobs," said Pence. Open borders and open trade received loud "boos" from the crowd.
Several women at the rally said they weren't bothered by the tape of Trump, in which he bragged to then-"Access Hollywood" host Billy Bush on a hot mic about allegedly kissing women and grabbing them by the genitals. Shelley Greenberg, 50, said Trump's stances on the issues in the race are more important to her.
"We have all done and said stupid and ignorant things. Period. I don't appreciate what he said. But the issues are what are on my mind," said Greenberg, a Charlotte resident who works in health care. She also said Trump won the debate: "Trump went into Armageddon debate and he came out a solid winner. He exposed Hillary and I call that leadership."
Before the Pence rally, state Republican Chairman Robin Hayes called the tape of Trump "inexcusable" and "absolutely horrible in taste."
But Hayes said Trump was contrite enough on the debate stage to satisfy him, and that the country should focus on more important issues. He also reiterated his support for Trump and said the state Republican Party won't withdraw resources from Trump to focus on down-ballot races.
"That should become an irrelevant question as we pursue the much greater goals of how the country's going to be run for the next four years," said Hayes. "He is our chosen representative. I am supporting him."
Pence's visit comes as Charlotte remains in the political spotlight. North Carolina is a crucial swing state, and though Clinton holds a slight edge in polling averages, the state remains within polls' margins of error.
At Sunday's debate, Trump disagreed with Pence over policy in Syria. Pence had suggested there may be a need for U.S. military strikes.
"OK. He and I haven't spoken, and I disagree," Trump said.
N.C. Sen. Jeff Jackson, a Charlotte Democrat, faulted Trump on Monday morning for the disagreement.
"Trump is so far out of the mainstream on national security that he openly dismissed and disagreed with his own running mate, Gov. Pence, on a key fact of national security, opting instead to side with war criminals and dictators," Jackson said at a news conference planned by the Clinton campaign in advance of Pence's visit.
Jackson also criticized Trump for his response to the video's release during the debate.
"We saw how Trump yet again refused to apologize for his disgusting and vile way that he talks about women despite being condemned by dozens of members of his own party," he said.
This week's campaign visits keep North Carolina � and Charlotte in particular � as ground zero for the presidential campaign. Trump trails Clinton by an average of 2.6 points, according to Real Clear Politics. The state is viewed as a must-win for Trump.
Last Sunday, Clinton visited Charlotte, where she addressed congregants of Little Rock AME Zion, a historic black church. And Tuesday first lady Michelle Obama held campaign rallies for Clinton in Charlotte and Raleigh.
Pence asked people in the crowd Monday to pray for the U.S. to "heal our land."
"If you're inclined to bow the head, bend the knee, it's a good time to pray for this country," said Pence. "It really is."
Observer staff writer Ronnie Glassberg contributed.
