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Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar insists her 67 counties are taking their time to thoroughly count ballots as the race narrows. USA TODAY

WASHINGTON Vice President Mike Pence tweeted Monday that he is firmly behind efforts to keep counting legal votes as the Trump campaign tries to find a way to undo Joe Bidens victory, which has been declared by media networks and recognized by a growing number of prominent Republicans.

Told @VP Team Today: it aint over til its over .. and this AINT over! President @realDonaldTrump has never stopped fighting for us and were gonna Keep Fighting until every LEGAL vote is counted, the vice president wrote in a tweet.

It's the first public statement Pencehas made since Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 election Saturday.

Vice President Mike Pence gives a speech on July 17, 2020, at Ripon College in Ripon, Wis.(Photo: Alex Martin, Appleton Post-Crescent)

President Donald Trump and his legal team continueto make the unsubstantiated claim that several states notably Pennsylvania havecounted ballots they shouldnt have and prematurely awarded Biden the victory he needed to win the White House.

Trump campaign lawyers and their GOP allies are challengingthe vote of several key states, including Georgia, Nevada and Michigan,that narrowly went for Biden.

More: If Trump still won't concede to Biden, he'll break more than a century of tradition

InPennsylvania: OnMonday evening,the Trump campaign filed a federal suit in Pennsylvania alleging voters were treated differently depending on whether they voted by mail or in person,creating an unconstitutional, two tiered system.The Trump campaign, the Republican Party of Pennsylvania and others have also filed a flurry of lawsuits and legal briefs aboutthe controversial three-day extension for voters to return mail ballots,the rights of people to observe ballot counting, andthe process for curing ballots when mistakes are made.

In Arizona: The Trump campaign has sued in Maricopa County, alleging Arizonavoters were given Sharpie pens to mark selections, andwhenvote tabulation machinesflagged some ballotsas defective, poll workersimproperly overrode themachines.State electionofficials have denied that ballots were tabulated improperly.

More: Most Republican lawsuits challenging election results in battleground states haven't gone far

In Georgia:The campaign continues to highlight voting irregularities and the president's claims of fraud. Both the campaign and the president have not provided any proof to back their unsubstantiated claims. And Brad Raffensperger, the state's Republican secretary of State, has rejected claims of widespread fraud in the states elections.

InMichigan:Astate judge threw out aTrumpcampaignlawsuit last week seeking an order that the Secretary of State provide meaningful access for observers to watch ballot countingand allow it to viewvideotaped surveillance of ballot drop boxes.The Trump campaign is appealing.

In Nevada:Republicans have brought cases in state and federal court alleging problems with software used to match signatures on mail ballots,but judges declined to stop vote counting.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell defending the president's right to pursue legal remedies.

More: Why Donald Trump isn't Al Gore: How 2020 legal challenges to the election differ from 2000

"President Trump is 100% within his rights to look into allegations of irregularities and weigh his legal options," the Kentucky Republican said on the Senate floor Monday. "If any major irregularities occurred this time of a magnitude that would affect the outcome, then every single American should want them to be brought to light. And if the Democrats feel confident they have not occurred, they should have no reason to fear any extra scrutiny.

While McConnell backed Trump's legal efforts, he did not echo the president's baseless claims about voter fraud and Democrats breaking the law to steal the election from him.

Even as Trump continues to allege voter fraud without providing evidence, prominent Republicans including former President George W. Bush have begun congratulating Biden on his victory.

"I just talked to the President-elect of the United States, Joe Biden," Bush, a Republican, said in a statement Sunday. "Iextended my warm congratulations and thanked him for the patriotic message he delivered last night."

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'This AINT over!' Vice President Mike Pence exhorts Trump campaign to continue challenging election result - USA TODAY

The name Mike Pence has come up a lot in recent weeks as the vice president has campaigned for reelection.

Some locals, however, might not be aware that Flathead County has its own Mike Pence, who has overseen county operations for the last 16 years. He is introduced as the real Mike Pence on a monthly KGEZ radio segment.

The man that has his hand on everything that happens in the county, Pence said in an interivew, quoting the radio introduction. Thats probably true.

While he hesitates to say it, Pence, 72, acknowledges hes probably the most powerful governmental figure in the county, but is unelected. As county administrator, Pence reports to the three county commissioners, and by the time he retires from his position early next year, will have served under 11 different commissioners.

Some people like continuity over time, but I havent really had that, Pence said. Eleven people over 16 years, thats quite a bit of change, but theyve all been great people and everyone has a different personality and ways they approach the job. I really like that challenge.

Pence learned early on that he had a knack for getting along well with people, a trait that has served him well during his 45 years serving in governmental entities.

After graduating with a degree in political science, Pence worked as a deputy county auditor in Iowa before running for election as county auditor. After serving two terms, he turned to city management and since then has worked as an administrator for three cities, three counties and an American Indian nation.

Pence notes that while hes learned a lot on the job, his Iowa upbringing is the key to his work style.

I grew up on a farm. I was taught common sense and hard work, and thats pretty much what I apply to all these positions Ive taken over all these years, Pence said. Im a fiscal conservative but not so much that I wont do things that need to get done.

Since he moved to the Flathead in 2005 to take over his current position, Pence has accomplished everything from creating the county finance department and overhauling an antiquated budgeting process to overseeing the expansion of the county campus and building up the countys cash reserves.

The bulleted summary report of his accomplishments covers 13 pages, but he is most fond of an additional 1,800 pages of documents that he began compiling early in his tenure.

This is what I take the most pride in, Pence said, hefting three spiral-bound books. My focus has been on fiscal management and the capital improvement plan.

One of the bound books is a 600-page budget system the guides each county department through the fiscal year. The capital improvement plan (CIP) book is similarly sized and is a comprehensive five-year funded plan with a 20-year outlook.

When I started here, the budget process was so antiquated it was hard to wrap your arms around it, Pence said. The capital improvement plan back in the day was departments basically giving us a Christmas wish list and we would deny most of it.

Pence works directly with roughly 20 department heads and managers, and believes that he has helped to create an effective system within the structure of the county government.

I think the management team is superb; weve made huge progress, and its all been positive, Pence said. I think we match up with any quality organization in the entire country. Were definitely in the top tier.

If Pence harbors any regrets about unfinished business, its that he hasnt been able to find a way to take county transparency to the next level.

Doing a really nice summary brochure and financial report was a goal of mine that I didnt obtain, because I cant figure out a way to do it so that people would read it, Pence said. Ill pass that along to my successor to do.

The search for his successor is currently underway, and after a short transition period, Pence and his wife Renee plan to leave the Flathead. Their goal is to travel the country visiting their six kids and 25 grandkids before settling down somewhere warm.

Im glad I stuck with this career, Pence said. I really enjoy serving the actual citizens that have come to me with complaints and grievances. Even if I couldnt solve hardly any of them, I can make them feel better about government and be someone who will at least listen to them.

I think Im leaving this place about as good as I could, Pence continued. Doesnt mean there isnt more to do, but I think its a well-oiled machine.

micah@flatheadbeacon.com

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'The Real Mike Pence' is Ready for Retirement - Flathead Beacon

Shortly after Pfizer made the stunning announcement that its vaccine had proved 90 percent effective in a study of thousands of people, Vice President Mike Pence and Trump ally Nicki Haley rushed to give credit to Donald Trump.

HUGE NEWS: Thanks to the public-private partnership forged by President @realDonaldTrump, @pfizer announced its Coronavirus Vaccine trial is EFFECTIVE, preventing infection in 90% of its volunteers.

The news about the @pfizer vaccine being 90% effective is great news for the American people! Many thanks to @realDonaldTrump and Operation Warp Speed. This will be one of the most important action items done by the administration in response to this pandemic. #USStrong

But thats yet another lie from the departing administration.

As Raw Story notes, Pfizers CEO Albert Bourla disavowed government partnership and funding months ago.

Bourla told Face the Nation: We are investing one billion and a half at least in COVID. I wanted to liberate our scientists from any bureaucracy. When you get money from someonethat always comes with strings. I didnt want any of that. I wanted to keep Pfizer out of politics

ICYMI: Why is @Pfizer financing #Covid19 #vaccine development on its own instead of accepting government funding? $PFE CEO Albert Bourla says I wanted to liberate our scientists from any bureaucracy. When you get money from someonethat always comes with strings. pic.twitter.com/t2IQPP9Wn4

Meanwhile, Donald Trump Jr. suggested the timing of Pfizers announcement was meant to hurt his father.

Read more:
Mike Pence Rushes to Give Trump Credit for Pfizer COVID Vaccine, But Company Disavowed Government Partnership Months Ago: WATCH - Towleroad

Among the similarities between President Donald Trump and his No. 2: Vice President Mike Pence didnt mind interrupting his debate opponent, either. According to data from NBC News, Pence interrupted Kamala Harris roughly twice as many times as she interrupted him during Wednesdays vice presidential debate.

Its a pattern thats in line with research about how comfortable men are interrupting women in many contexts, including meetings: According to a 2014 study from George Washington University, men interrupted 33 percent more when they were speaking with a woman versus a man, and women didnt interrupt to the same degree.

Ultimately, Pence interrupted Harris 16 times, based on the NBC data, while she interrupted him nine times. Both are a far cry from how frequently Trump did the same to former Vice President Joe Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, though Wednesdays breakdown still speaks to a broader dynamic of male candidates being willing to talk over female ones.

Harris repeatedly made clear that she wouldnt stand by as it happened. Mr. Vice President, Im speaking, she said on multiple occasions, actively calling out Pence on his behavior. Her exasperation may not have won everyone to her side, but it did resonate with many women on social media who have had this same experience. After the debate, a similar dynamic even appeared to play out on a CNN panel.

The interruptions werent the only times Harris pushed back on Pences tone and approach.

In one instance, Pence questioned Harriss record on criminal justice as California attorney general on which shes also faced scrutiny from progressive activists by seemingly portraying himself as the authority on the criminal justice system. Harris attempted to respond to the critique and questioned why he was trying to lecture her on an area where shes an expert.

I will not sit here and be lectured by the vice president on what it means to enforce the laws of our country, she said.

Pences approach and demeanor throughout the debate including his unwillingness to answer questions posed to him about pivotal issues including health care, while pressing Harris to provide responses to him read like a condescending double standard that many women encounter in the workplace, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez noted in a tweet.

As Pence made evident on Wednesday, although his and Trumps styles may be different, both are more than comfortable taking performative postures and talking over others to do it while often lacking substance themselves.

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Kamala Harris: Im speaking Senator repeatedly shut down Mike Pences interruptions at vice presidential - Vox.com

For one thing, somebody like Pence in the past would have had a certain appeal to evangelical voters that is less strong now because evangelicals, in embracing Trump, have changed their character, Mr. Wehner said, adding, The kind of appeal that a guy like Pence had is just not as great.

Mr. Trumps health problems, coming on top of a looming election that polls show Republicans at considerable risk of losing, have added greater urgency to the debate inside the Republican Party over its future and whether its next leader should be someone who emulates Mr. Trump. No small number of conservatives believe their political victories over the last four years would have been impossible without Mr. Trumps defiance of political norms and his frequent disregard for civility and compromise in domestic and foreign affairs.

As evidence, they point to actions Mr. Trump has taken that they said other Republican presidents would have been too restrained to pull off, no matter how conservative they were, such as moving the American embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and pulling out of international agreements such as the Paris climate accords and the pact on nuclear development with Iran.

It took Trumps determination to get these things done, Mr. Perkins said.

Republican elected officials have tried to copy Mr. Trumps renegade style, with varying degrees of success. Its difficult for most politicians to do. Some conservatives said that when they look at the senators and governors who are considered to be the next generation of Republican leadership, they do not see anyone capable of replicating Mr. Trumps style and having the same command over the publics attention.

Oct. 12, 2020, 5:15 p.m. ET

There has to be a level of shamelessness that is not easy to achieve, said Yuval Levin, director of Social, Cultural and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute.

If most of the stylistic aspects of his leadership cant be copied, there are still some things about him that could carry over. One, said Mr. Levin, is the skepticism that Mr. Trump sows about government institutions, from the intelligence services he accuses of undermining him to the Federal Reserve he claims is stifling economic growth. Doubt about the trustworthiness of the countrys governance has been an animating feature of the American right, most recently as a force behind the Tea Party movement in 2009.

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Mike Pence Brought Conservatives Home. What if They Dont Need Him Anymore? - The New York Times