The two Christian vice-presidential candidates, Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Mike Pence, clashed over the issue of abortion during their televised debate last night.
Pence, who was raised Catholic but converted to become an evangelical at college, stressed his opposition to abortion and attacked Hillary Clinton for opposing a ban on partial term abortions because it did not include an exemption on health grounds.
Pence said that it was unacceptable that "a child that is almost-born into the world could still have their life taken from them".
Kaine, a Catholic who says he personally opposes abortion but has voted consistently in favour of abortion rights, said that he and Hillary Clinton support the Supreme Court decision that made abortion in the US legal in 1973.
"We support the constitutional right of American women to consult their own conscience, their own supportive partner, their own minister, but then make their own decision about pregnancy," Kaine said.
Kaine drew a distinction between personal belief and public policy. He said that "you should live fully and with enthusiasm the commands of your faith", but added "it is not the role of the public servant to mandate that for everybody else."
Kaine went on to criticise Donald Trump's assertion that women should face some kind of "punishment" for abortion. "Why doesn't [he] trust women to make this choice for themselves?" Kaine asked.
Pence distanced Trump from the comment, adding that the Republican presidential candidate was "not a polished politician like [Kaine] and Hillary Clinton". Pence added that he was "proud" to be standing on a pro-life ticket with Trump.
Indiana Governor Pence and Virginia Senator Kaine debated for 90 minutes in the only vice presidential debate of the campaign, at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia.
Today, Pence told the conservative radio show host James Dobson that he and Trump would defend the right to religious exemptions if they won in November.
"I don't believe in discrimination or mistreatment of anyone; I believe that we should love our neighbour as ourself," Kaine told Dobson on 'Family Talk'.
"But neither do I think that anyone should ever fear persecution because of their deeply held religious beliefs."
Religious institutions, particularly Catholic ones, have repeatedly clashed with the Obama administration over the issue of exemptions on areas such as contraception cover for employees.
