Pence appeals to small businesses in Scranton speech

On a rainy Wednesday night, Republican Vice-Presidential candidate Mike Pence addressed about 400 fans at Kenworth of Pennsylvania, a trucking company outside Scranton. He stood between two large truck tractors, under a “Make America Great Again” banner, and discussed industry and integrity. 

Pence said this election was about one thing, above all else: “It’s about upholding the highest standard of integrity in the highest office in the land.”

Though, when an audience member shouted “Build a wall” — a reference to Trump’s plan to have Mexico pay for a border wall between the two countries — Pence agreed that the election was also about that. 

The crowd loved Pence’s talk of reducing taxes and regulation on small businesses.

“We’re going to lower business taxes across Pennsylvania and across America so companies like Kenworth of Pennsylvania can create jobs here in Scranton and compete with the wider world,” he said, to applause and cheers. 

He also discussed cracking down on companies that send jobs overseas. Earlier in the day, Lackawanna County Democrats held a press conference, highlighting what they say is a poor record on outsourcing from Trump and Pence. 

Pence also focused on his opponent, Hillary Clinton, comparing her email scandal to Richard Nixon’s Watergate tape scandal and discussing her recent comment calling half of Trump’s supporters deplorable.

“Anyone that has that low an opinion of the American people should never serve in the highest office in the land. We must decide here and now, Hillary Clinton will never be elected president of the United States of America.” 

The crowd was enthusiastic and showed their support for Pence’s message. When he joked that he was a “B-List Republican celebrity,” the crowd broke into a chant of his name.