Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Kaine defends campaign’s respect for religion

WASHINGTON — The Latest on the 2016 presidential campaign (all times EDT):

9:45 a.m.

Tim Kaine, Hillary Clinton's running mate, is defending the campaign's respect for different religions after a leaked email by a Clinton aide suggested that Catholicism is more "socially acceptable" for conservatives than evangelism.

Kaine, a lifelong Catholic, says Clinton saw his religion as "a real asset." In an interview with ABC's "This Week," Kaine said the two discussed their faith at length before Clinton asked Kaine to join her on the Democratic ticket.

He said: "in terms of what Hillary Clinton, who's running for president, thinks about Catholics, and the value more broadly of having a faith background, I can tell you she views at it as a plus, just as she views her own Methodism as a plus."

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9:40 a.m.

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi says that if the election were held now, her party would have a good chance to gain the majority in the House.

Pelosi says on CNN's "State of the Union" that the outcome will depend upon how well Hillary Clinton fares and how much money Republican-leaning interest groups pour into the races to help GOP candidates.

"I think it will be a single-digit difference," Pelosi says. "They'll be ahead by some. We'll be ahead by some, but it is definitely within reach."

Republicans have been favored to retain House control in November's voting, with Democrats needing to gain 30 seats to take charge of the 435-member chamber.

Pelosi said voters are focused on how the stances take by the candidates will affect them and that's why recent polling hasn't changed dramatically in the presidential race.

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9:40 a.m.

Donald Trump's vice presidential candidate is not repeating his running mate's call for drug testing before the next presidential debate.

Mike Pence was asked on Fox News Sunday whether he agrees with Trump that Hillary Clinton should be tested for drugs. Pence replied: "All I know for sure is that Donald Trump is going to be ready for the debate on Wednesday night."

Trump on Saturday insisted that his Democratic rival was on drugs at their second debate and said — without evidence — that when it was over, "she could barely reach her car."

The drug-testing suggestion came as Trump tried to move on from accusations by multiple women that Trump sexually assaulted them. Trump says none of those stories is true.

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9:30 a.m.

Tim Kaine says Republican leaders need to push back harder against Donald Trump's claims that the election is rigged and that Trump is "swinging at every phantom" because he's losing in the polls.

In an interview with ABC's "This Week," Hillary Clinton's running mate suggested that Trump has become unhinged in his latest comments on election fraud and female accusers of sexual assault.

Kaine said of Trump: "He's blaming the media. He's blaming the GOP. He's saying that America can't run a fair election. He is swinging at every phantom of his own imagination because he knows he's losing."

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9 a.m.

Vice President Joe Biden says one reason he thinks Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has a tougher time appealing to some voter groups like working-class whites is because "there is a sort of double standard for a woman candidate."

Biden says in an interview airing Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press" that Democrats could do more to speak to the struggles of a family making $80,000 to $100,000 a year with a couple of children. Biden says it's important to talk directly to them and show them more respect.

He says Clinton is very concerned about these people and needs to show them "where her heart is, what she cares about."

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