Vice President Mike Pence visits Coastal Carolina’s campus

Mike Pence, Vice President of the United States, visited the campus of Coastal Carolina University on Saturday, June 23 to campaign for South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster ahead of Tuesday’s runoff election.

Vice President Pence encouraged a crowd of over 500 people inside Williams-Brice Kimbel Arena to go out and vote in Tuesday’s runoff election.

“Let’s go to work and get four more years of Governor Henry McMaster,” said Pence. “President Donald Trump and I stand with the people of South Carolina and we stand with Governor Henry McMaster.”

Governor McMaster, who was also in attendance at the rally, is facing John Warren, a 39-year old businessman, in a runoff election on Tuesday, June 26 after McMaster failed to achieve the 50 percent majority vote in the primary election on June 12.

McMaster reminded the crowd of his accomplishments that have taken place in his short time as Governor of South Carolina.

“South Carolina is winning,” said McMaster. “I have had the great pleasure of announcing over six billion dollars of capital investments and bringing nearly 21,000 new jobs to our state. That is the best we have ever done. You don’t change the coach in the middle of a winning season. You give him four more years and let him keep winning and winning.”

Pamela Evette, McMaster’s nominee for lieutenant governor and President/CEO of Quality Based Solutions out of Traveler’s Rest, South Carolina, was in attendance and reiterated the same message as Vice President Pence.

Pence spoke to the crowd about Evette and her being a part of the McMaster campaign.

“I am very impressed by this whole team,” said Pence. “I’m kind of partial to running mates and [Evette] is a great business leader that has been creating jobs all across South Carolina. Pamela Evette is going to be a great lieutenant governor.”

Pence also took this visit to the Grand Strand as an opportunity to thank those voters who helped Donald Trump get elected in 2016 Presidential Election.

“You have made it possible for us to advance an agenda that is resulting in a stronger and more prosperous America,” said Pence.

Pence, as well as other speakers at the event such as Congressman Tom Rice of South Carolina’s 7th District, took the time to send thoughts and prayers to Katie Arrington, a South Carolina politician who recently defeated Representative Mark Sanford in the 1st District Primary.

Arrington is in serious condition after being involved in a fatal car wreck on the night of Friday, June 22. According to Arrington’s campaign, Arrington was traveling on a highway in the passenger seat when another driver traveling in the wrong direction struck the car carrying her and a friend. The driver who was traveling in the wrong direction was killed.

Arrington suffered back fracture, broken ribs, a partial collapse in the main artery in her leg and had to have surgery to remove a portion of her colon and to remove a portion of her small intestine.

“I express my deepest condolences to the family who lost a loved one in this accident,” said Pence. “I know I speak for everyone all across the state of South Carolina and across America when we say that Katie and her family are in our prayers. I did speak with Katie’s husband on Air Force Two and he tells me that while she might be in the hospital for a couple of weeks, Katie Arrington’s spirit is strong.”

Before Pence left the stage, he used a rather familiar campaign phrase to rally support for McMaster.

“With Henry McMaster in the state house, the great representation in Washington, D.C., Donald Trump in the Oval Office and with God’s help, we will make South Carolina and America safe again,” said Pence. “We will make South Carolina and America prosperous again. And to borrow a phrase, we will make America great again.”

President Donald Trump will be in Columbia on Monday, June 25 to campaign for McMaster.

The winner of Tuesday's runoff election will face Representative James Smith in the 2018 gubernatorial election in November.