Kaine, Pence clash during VP debate

Democratic vice-presidential nominee Sen. Tim Kaine flashes a thumbs up and Republican vice-presidential nominee Gov. Mike Pence looks on after the vice-presidential debate at Longwood University in Farmville, Va., Tuesday. (Joe Raedle/Pool via AP)

The two vice-presidential candidates got into a bitter exchange about an excerpt from the speech that launched Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, in which Trump said that undocumented immigrants from Mexico were “rapists” and “bringing crime.”

“He’s not a polished politician, like you and Hillary Clinton,” said Gov. Mike Pence (Indiana), Trump’s running mate, in the only vice-presidential debate of the season.

“He is showing you who is he is,” said Sen. Tim Kaine (Virginia) a few moments later, saying that Trump’s comments about Mexicans showed his true character.

“Senator, you whipped out that Mexican thing again,” Pence said. It was, indeed, one of several times that Kaine had brought up that remark – a calculated effort, playing to Hispanic voters.

“Can you defend it?” Kaine interrupted/ Washington Post . More here.