Pence says ‘elections are about choices’ after combative first debate performance

Follow live: Updates from AP’s coverage of the presidential election. WASHINGTON — Former Vice President Mike Pence says voters should expect to see the same, more combative candidate at the next GOP debate as he urged his former running-mate-turned-rival Donald Trump to join his competitors on stage next time around. “You know, elections are about choices and I welcomed the opportunity last night to draw a contrast with other candidates on the stage who I think are walking away from the conservative agenda that has defined our movement for 50 years and holds the keys for restoring American leadership in the world and American prosperity and security at home,” Pence said in an interview from Milwaukee a day after the first Republican presidential primary debate. The debate came as Pence and his campaign have taken a more aggressive posture toward Trump following a pair of indictments related to the former president’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Pence spent four years as Trump’s most loyal defender before breaking with him over those efforts and has said: “Anyone that puts themselves over the Constitution should never be president of the United States.” Still, Pence was among all but two of the candidates who clearly raised his hand when asked Wednesday night whether they would support Trump, the race’s prohibitive front-runner, if he is the nominee and convicted on criminal charges.