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Vice President Mike Pence said the "Kentucky is a textbook example of Obamacare's failures" and promised that it will be repealed and replaced. Sam Upshaw Jr./C-J

Vice President Mike Pence smiled at supporters before making remarks at the Trane Parts and Distribution Center in Louisville. Mar. 11, 2017(Photo: Sam Upshaw Jr./C-J)Buy Photo

A budding bromance, protests and a vow to repeal Obamacare. Here arefive takeaways from Vice President Mike Pence's visit to Louisville.

More than 600 people gathered along the road before Vice President Mike Pence arrived at a warehouse facility to speak. Many of the protesters chanted, "Save our care." There was a sign of Vladimir Putin holding a baby Donald Trump, and a sign saying "No! to Ryancare," a reference to House Speaker Paul Ryan. When Trump supporters showed up, it was civil but some sharp words.

READ MORE: Protesters rally to 'Save our Care'

READ MORE: Pence calls Obamacare a 'nightmare'

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Pence had a friend during his visit: Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin.And they were effusively praising each other. Bevin made his "dear friend" Pence a Kentucky Colonel, the highest title of honor bestowed by the commonwealth. Pence, Indiana's former governor,said he was a Bevin supporter "before it was cool." Shucks, they evenkick around a football, together.

READ MORE:Bevin makes Pence a Kentucky Kernel

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Bevin called the Affordable Care Acta "disaster" in Kentucky, saying there is only one provider in some areas of the state. Pence joined in, saying,"Obamacare has failed the people of Kentucky" and that the state's Medicaid expansion is threatening to bankrupt the state. More than half a million Kentuckians have gained health coverage under Obamacare.

Former Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear speaks at the Green Building on East Market Street in Louisville as he defends the Affordable Care Act and its benefits to Kentuckians. March 11, 2017(Photo: Alton Strupp/CJ)

That's right. During his speech, the vice president said former Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear was a friend, noting they worked together as governors of their two states. But, Pence said, they disagree on Obamacare, and that's all right. The debate is good, Pence said. Beshear, who gave the Democratic response to President Donald Trump's first address to Congress,doesn't think his implementation of Obamacare as governor was such a bad thing. Matter of fact, he feels quite the opposite.

READ MORE:Beshear: GOP is playing life or death

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., criticizes the House Republican healthcare reform plan as "Obamacare light" during a television interview on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 7, 2017.(Photo: J. Scott Applewhite, AP)

Despite all the talk about Obamacare being bad for Kentucky and Pence's effusive praise of Bevin and President Donald Trump the target of Saturday's visit may well have been Sen. Rand Paul. The Kentucky senator and ophthalmologist has denounced the repeal-and-replace plan promoted by Pence. And this week, Paul reintroduced legislation from the last Congress to fully repeal Obamacare.

In recent weeks, the vice president has gone on the road to promote the plan, and Larry J. Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said this week that it's common for politicians to show upin the backyard of key legislators they want to pressure. But Dr. Paul has shown no sign of backing down.

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5 takeaways from Mike Pence's Kentucky visit - The Courier-Journal