Pence touts American 'renewal' in Minnesota speech to Legionnaires

Vice President Mike Pence told American Legion members Thursday that the nation was experiencing "nothing short of a great renewal of American strength at home and abroad."

Addressing the Legion's 100th national convention on its closing day, Pence said the Legion has a clear ally in the White House with President Trump and ticked off what he said were increased protections for veterans and a firmer resolve on the global stage.

"Over the past year and a half with the strong support of the American Legion, our administration has replaced weakness with vigor, doubt with confidence and timidity with leadership," Pence said in his nearly 30-minute speech. "And under President Donald Trump and together with all of you, we are forging a new century of American strength."

Pence, the son of a Korean War veteran and father of a Marine, promised the Trump administration would look out for the well-being of veterans, whether it's speeding up health care services or providing mental health assistance.

"Just as you fought for our freedom," Pence said, "We will always fight for you."

Pence took the stage just ahead of a memorial service to the late Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain, a war hero whose death at age 81 has sparked a nationwide tribute. McCain's passing has been difficult for the White House to navigate, with Trump declining initially to offer much comment on a sometimes-foe and facing pressure to lower the U.S. flags to half-staff beyond last weekend.

Pence, who will represent the White House as McCain's casket is brought to the U.S. Capitol on Friday, offered unmitigated praise.

"I can always assure you America will always remember and honor the lifetime of service of United States Senator John McCain," the vice president said.

Mike Schaffer, a Legion delegate and an Air Force veteran from Currie, Minn., said he's happy with the country's direction under Trump and its international reputation as having firm resolve.

"I think it's much stronger now than it has been. Foreign countries now are not as willing to ignore us and do whatever they want," Schaffer said. "They now know that in some cases, depending on the circumstances, there are consequences."

After the Legion speech, Pence was headed to Bloomington for a high-dollar fundraiser for the state Republican Party.

This in-and-out visit was the second Pence stop in Minnesota this month. Earlier in August, he visited a Duluth-area factoryand held a campaign event for Pete Stauber, the Republican nominee for the open 8th Congressional District seat that is regarded nationally as one of the GOP's top pickup opportunities this midterm election.

But Minnesota has several other seats on the national radar this year, including defense of House Republican incumbents Erik Paulsen and Jason Lewis in the suburbs and another contest for an open seat in southern Minnesota where Jim Hagedorn is the nominee for a third time.

Paulsen faces first-time candidate and businessman Dean Phillips. Lewis has a rematch with former health company executive Angie Craig. Hagedorn's rival is ex-Defense Department official Dan Feehan.

Minnesota's two U.S. Senate seats are also at stake. Two-term Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar heavily favored in her race with Republican state Rep. Jim Newberger. The other race, featuring appointed DFL Sen. Tina Smith and GOP state Sen. Karin Housley is viewed as more competitive.

President Donald Trump held a campaign rally in Duluth in June and could make additional visits to the state prior to November's election. Trump narrowly lost the state in 2016, extending the nation's longest streak of wins by Democratic nominees for president to 11.

The week's convention saw a parade of speakers, including politicians from both parties.

On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Tim Walz told Legionnaires that their issues were too important to get caught up in partisan politics. Walz is the lead Democrat on the House Veterans Affairs Committee and the DFL nominee for Minnesota governor.

"Not a single one of us served in our branch of services alongside a Democrat or a Republican. We did not serve alongside a Jew, a Muslim or a Christian," said Walz, an Army veteran. "We served alongside an American warrior and that's who we're here to defend."