RNC 2020: Mike Pence Slams Joe Biden; Kellyanne Conway Leads Pitch For Women's Vote

Vice President Mike Pence savaged Joe Biden as "a cheerleader for communist China" and a "a Trojan horse for a radical left" who will destroy America as we know it today if elected president.

Accepting his renomination Wednesday at the Republican National Convention, Pence tore into Biden repeatedly as the embodiment of the lawlessness he and President Donald Trump are fighting. Polls show violent crime remains among the top issues among Republicans, in addition to the economy and the coronavirus.

Pence slammed Biden as soft on terror, both foreign and domestic. He claimed Biden both opposed the killing or Qassem Soleimani and Osama bin Laden. Turning to the U.S., Pence then slammed Biden for not saying one word "about the violence and chaos engulfing cities across this country," referring to the protests against police brutality.

"Joe Biden would double down on the very policies that are leading to unsafe streets and violence in America’s cities," said Pence.

Pence insisted the Democrats' nominee will defund law enforcement if elected president, despite Biden's repeated denials. He also said Biden wants open borders; sanctuary cities and free lawyers and healthcare for illegal immigrants. Taken together, Biden's goals will make America less safe as a country. It also makes Biden a "Trojan Horse for the radical left," he claimed.

"The hard truth is ... you won’t be safe in Joe Biden’s America," said Pence. "Under President Trump, we will stand with those who stand on the Thin Blue Line, and we’re not going to defund the police -- not now, not ever."

Pence also claims Biden is China's patsy. Biden "has been a cheerleader for communist China -- wants to repeal all the tariffs that are leveling the playing field for American workers and actually criticized President Trump for suspending all travel from China at the outset of this pandemic."

Given these stark choices, the election is about the survival of America, argued Pence.

"It’s not so much whether America will be more conservative or more liberal, more Republican or more Democrat," according to Pence. "The choice in this election Is whether America remains America."

Pence glossed over the Trump Administration's often-criticized response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He praised Trump for taking the unprecedented step of suspending all travel from China in February.

He said Trump's decision saved an untold number of American lives and gave the U.S. time to launch the greatest national mobilization since World War II. Pence said Trump has championed a growing number of treatments, including convalescent plasma, and believes a vaccine is coming soon.

"As we speak we’re developing a growing number of treatments, including convalescent plasma that are saving lives all across the country."

He promised the U.S. is "on track to have the world’s first safe, effective coronavirus vaccine by the end of this year."

In what was her final speech as a member of the Trump Administration, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway sought to depict Trump as a champion of women's rights despite his challenged track record.

She claimed that Trump for decades has “elevated women to senior positions in business and in government." She insisted Trump “confides in and consults us, respects our opinions, and insists that we are on equal footing with the men.”

Personally, she said Trump helped her shatter a barrier in the world of politics "by empowering me to manage his campaign to its successful conclusion."

Other speakers on the night included several high-profile women, including Second Lady Karen Pence, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem.

Thursday's final night of the RNC will be highlighted by Trump's acceptance speech.