A Donald Trump presidency "will stand for the sanctity of life and defend the unborn, from the first day we take office," Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence vowed to a meeting of conservative faith-based voters Saturday.
Pence delivered a full-throated declaration against legalized abortion on Trump’s behalf at the Values Voter Summit in Washington, D.C., a day after Trump failed to mention abortion in his remarks to the group.
"I’m truly grateful for Donald Trump’s strong commitment to the sanctity of life," Pence said. "He understands the moral imperative of advancing the cause of life. And we’ve spoken of it many times, in fact did again this morning on my way here to see you."
In his speech Friday, Trump promised to "fight for the American family and American family values" but said nothing about hot-button social issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage.
Faith-based voters are coalescing around Trump, but they aren’t enthusiastic about it.
Many are still nervous about Trump, concerned about his beliefs on social issues, his bombastic persona and the personal lifestyle of the thrice-married, twice-divorced New York real estate mogul and former reality-television host.
People who know me well know that I’m pro-life, I don’t apologize for it.
GOP vice presidential candidate Mike Pence
A Pew Research poll in July found that 78 percent of self-identified white evangelicals plan to vote for Trump in November but that half of the respondents weren’t satisfied with their ballot options.
Forty-five percent of white evangelicals said their Trump votes would mainly represent votes against Clinton, while 30 percent said their Trump votes represented support for him.
Trump has said that, if elected president, he would seek to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that legalized abortion, by appointing conservative justices to the Supreme Court who oppose the procedure.
In the meantime, he would "end late-term abortions nationwide" and cut federal funding for Planned Parenthood as president, Pence said.
“Things will change, and we’ll stand for life,” Pence said.
Trump’s running mate told the summit that "I want to live to see the day that we put the sanctity of life back at the center of American law and we send Roe versus Wade to the ash heap of history where it belongs."
William Douglas: 202-383-6026, @williamgdouglas